TOPIC 4.AFRICA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
AFRICA IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
This topic is largely concern with the relationship and
cooperation between African nations among themselves and cooperation between
African and the outside world. We shall concentrate much on regional
integration between African nations and also relationship with international
organizations by examining the objectives, achievements, impacts and challenges.
In our sub topics will include the following:
·
The African Unity (AU)
·
The East African Community (EAC)
·
The Southern African Development Community (SADC)
·
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
·
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
·
The Common Wealth Nations
Continental Cooperation
Continental
cooperation was facilitated by the social, political and economic exploitation
imposed on Africans. Through these the African people realized the need for
cooperation and the consciousness that they share a common destiny. So they
decided to cooperate with the view to overcome their terrible situation. Hence
they started by establishing Pan African Unity in the Diaspora and the ultimate
emergence of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) as well as African Unity
(AU) and various regional groupings have emerged in the continent.
The Objectives of Establishing Continental Co-operation
Analyse
the objectives of establishing continental co-operation
Objectives
of establishing continental cooperation
·
-To preserve political independence and freedom
· -
To preserve African culture from destruction
·
-To protect African dignity
· -
Unifying Africans in the struggle against political oppression
· -
To challenge the ideology of European supremacy which undermines
African political independence, economic stability and cultural civilization
·
To fight against economic exploitation including land
alienation, poor wages and forced labour.
Problems
resulting from the establishment of continental cooperation and their impacts
on Africa
· -
Interference by external powers in the affairs of the African
continent, the notorious powers like USA, Britain, France and former Soviet
Union provides support in form offinances and armaments to different African
states and by so doing divided African states by persuading them to take side
during disputes involving these major power.
·
-Disputes involving different member states especially over
boundaries greatly undermine the continental unity. In fact the member states
engaged in war over boarder disputes,some of these wars include Ghana and Togo,
Algeria and Morocco, Ethiopia and Somalia/Eritrea as well a Cameroon and
Nigeria.
· -
Personality differences between African leaders for example
personality difference experienced between president Museveni of Uganda and
president Bashir of Sudan in1980s and 1990s and between Idd Amin of Uganda and
President J.K. Nyerere of Tanzania in the 1970s.
· -
Dependency on former colonial masters, several times African
countries ask support from their former colonial masters especially in the face
of political threat from neighboring African states rather than seeking the
continental body support hence existence of Britain and French military bases in
different African countries up to date.
·
-Persuading national interests at the expense of the continental
interests and thereby undermined the continental spirit promoted by the
organization.
· -
Ideological differences
· -
Violation of human rights by the leaders for example member
countries have continued to support president Omar al-Bashir of Sudan who has
already been indicated for abuse for human rights in Darfur.
· -
Lack of common position toward issues further waters down some
of the decisions and opinions of the organization.
·
-Unable to meet organization objectives in the absence of
external support due to relying on financial support from more economically
advanced nations and the United Nations,in order to fund some of the program.
·
-Terrorism, for example in 2010 Uganda faced bomb attack which
killed over 70 people.This was carried out to punish Uganda for sending AU
troops to serve in Somalia.
The Achievements and Problems Resulting from the Establishment
of Continental Co-Operation and their Impact on Africa
Explain
the achievements and problems resulting from the establishment of continental
co-operation and their impact on Africa
Problems
resulting from the establishment of continental cooperation and their impacts
on Africa
· -
Interference by external powers in the affairs of the African
continent, the notorious powers like USA, Britain, France and former Soviet
Union provides support in form of finances and armaments to different African
states and by so doing divided African states by persuading them to take side
during disputes involving these major power.
·
-Disputes involving different member states especially over
boundaries greatly undermine the continental unity. In fact the member states
engaged in war over boarder disputes,some of these wars include Ghana and Togo,
Algeria and Morocco, Ethiopia and Somalia/Eritrea as well a Cameroon and
Nigeria.
·
-Personality differences between African leaders for example
personality difference experienced between president Museveni of Uganda and
president Bashir of Sudan in1980s and 1990s and between Idd Amin of Uganda and
President J.K. Nyerere of Tanzania in the 1970s.
·
-Dependency on former colonial masters, several times African
countries ask support from their former colonial masters especially in the face
of political threat from neighboring African states rather than seeking the
continental body support hence existence of Britain and French military bases in
different African countries up to date.
·
-Persuading national interests at the expense of the continental
interests and there by undermined the continental spirit promoted by the
organization.
·
Ideological differences
· -
Violation of human rights by the leaders for example member
countries have continued to support president Omar al-Bashir of Sudan who has
already been indicated for abuse for human rights in Darfur.
· -
Lack of common position toward issues further waters down some
of the decisions and opinions of the organization.
· -
Unable to meet organization objectives in the absence of
external support due to relying on financial support from more economically
advanced nations and the United Nations,in order to fund some of the program.
· -
Terrorism, for example in 2010 Uganda faced bomb attack which
killed over 70 people.This was carried out to punish Uganda for sending AU
troops to serve in Somalia.
Achievement
resulting from the establishment of continental cooperation on Africa
·
-Tackling disputes experienced in the African continent for
example post-election violence in Kenya in 2007, the AU sent a group of eminent
to assist in tackling the crisis,not only that but also during the post
election violence in Zimbabwe the AU helped to mediate in the crisis between
Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe.
·
-Supporting regional cooperation including the formation of EAC,SADC and ECOWAS
· -
Enhancing democracy and good management of economies
· -
Interfering with countries facing threats of conflicts or war.
· -
Provision of an important forum where independent African states
could sit and discuss the issues facing their continent.
· -
Supporting the national liberation movements in Africa against
colonialism, the assistance was provided in form of shelter, funds, weapon,
training facilities and expertise as well as logistics. For example the OAU
liberation committee which wasbased in Dar es salaam, Tanzania assisted
liberation movements all over the continent to eradicate colonialism.
·
-Promotion of economic, social and technical advancement in the
continent. Through the African Development Bank (ADB), member states have
benefited from financial assistance which has facilitated the expansion of
infrastructural development in the continent.
· -
Promotion of communication in the continent by developing
postal, telecommunications,radio and television networks in Africa.
· -
Promotion of social and cultural heritage in the continent
through All Africa Games that were held every four years, peoples from across
the continent interacted through participation in different sports such as
soccer, athletics and other sporting activities.
African Regional
Cooperation
The
need for regional cooperation in Africa arose from the need to tackle
political, social, and economic needs of the people. Leaders from different
regions realized the need to work together in order to overcome developmental
challenges facing individual countries as a group rather than as individual
countries. This regional approach was found more beneficial given that the
people in one region are likely to work more closely together due to
geographical, historical and cultural advantages. Among the regional groupings
existing in Africa include COMESA,SADC,ECOWAS and EAC.
The Organization of African Unity (OAU)
The
organization of African unity was found on 25 may 1963in AddisAbaba Ethiopia
by thirty two heads of the independent African states the first chairman was
Emperor Haile Sellasie of Ethiopia
This
was inspired by pan Africans sentiment of bringing all people of African origin
both in the Diaspora and Africa under a single organization to fight and
protect their rights.
Nkurumah
one of the pioneers of african union and the founding father of Ghana was
greatly influenced by his education in USA he believed that the only way to
achieve complete economic as well as political freedom from European domination
was to create a powerful new „united states of Africa‟ then though continental wide
cooperation.
Africa
would real take place on the world economic and political stage on terms of
equality. In unity Nkurumah was saw strength but in practical terms his dream
proved illusory.
In the
beginning of the second millennium OAU faced a lot of challenges and the need
to for reform to cope with the new trend of global economic cooperation in
different region of the world as demonstrated by the success of European union
the idea of forming the strong organization which would accommodate these new challenges
were pioneered by Muammar the former leader of Libya, during the OAU summit at
the town of Sirte Libya on 9th September 1999, where african head of state made
the „Sirte declaration‟ and
called for the establishment of an african union
In the
following year in Lome Togo 2000 the African head of states adopted the
constitutive act of the union. And then in Lusaka Zambia summit 2001 the final
go ahead to the establishment of AU and finally in 2002 in Durban South Africa
AU was officially born replacing OAU
The
African union is made up of both political and administrative bodies. The
highest decision making is assembly of the African union, made up of the all
heads of state or government of member states of the AU
The
assembly is chaired by Yayi Boni, president of Benin elected at the 18th
ordinary meeting of the assembly on January 2012. The AU also has a
representative body, the Pan African parliament, which consists of 265 members
elected by the national parliaments of the AU member states. Its president is
Idriss Ndele Moussa.
PICTURE SHOWING THE NEW HEADQUATERS OF AFRICAN UNION
THE STRUCTURE ORGANIZATION OF AU
Objectives of OAU
-To
forge unity and solidarity, the primary aim of OAU was to promote African unity
and solidarity as the only way forward to achieve complete economic as well as
political freedom from other countries of the world, because unity and
solidarity would make Africa as super power among other countries.
-To
coordinate and intensify the cooperation and the efforts of Africa states to
achieve a better living of people and also to help the speeding up of the
decolonization in the rest of Africa
-To
defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of African
states, one of the OAU principle states the acceptance of the principle of non
interference in internal affairs of member state.
-To
eradicate all forms of colonialism in Africa and acts of slavery in the entire
continent of Africa by promoting freedom and human rights to be given first
priority.
-To
promote international cooperation in accordance of the United Nations
organization and the universal declaration of human rights
-To
promote peace security and stability in region
-To
promote democratic principles and institutions particularly good governance
-To
promote human and people‟s rights
in accordance with African human and people‟s right and other relevant human rights instruments.
-To
establish the necessary conditions this would enable Africans play its rightful
role not only in the local economy but also internationally.
-To
promote sustainable development at economic, social and cultural levels towards
the integration of African economies
-To
coordinate and policies between the existing and future regional economic
communities for attainment of the ultimate objectives of the union
-To
collaborate in international partner, towards the eradication of preventable
diseases and promotion of good healthy in the continent
Principles of OAU
·
-The existence of sovereign equality of all members
·
-Non interference in the internal affairs of the member states.
·
-Respect for the sovereignty and the inalienable right to
independent of all member states.
·
-Peaceful settlement of disputes by negotiation, mediation and
conciliation or arbitration.
·
-The affirmation of the policy of non alignment
·
-Unreserved condemnation of political assassination as well as of
subversive activities against any member state
Achievement of OAU
It
achieved to unite the diverse countries of Africa; this has been attained
despite discrepancies in political ideology, levels of economic development,
language, colonial experiences and vast geographical differences.
There
was of course disagreement between states and groups of states but its main aim
was unity and OAU survived its first three decades with no permanent spirit
It has
been achieved in providing a forum for discussing common problems of African
states and offering solutions like discrimination or apartheid, diseases and
civil wars among others. That to a big extent has been dealt with.
The
regular meeting of ministers and heads of state have helped to generate greater
awareness of other countries problems.
OAU has
also achieved in liberation of Africa from colonialism e.g. Zimbabwe, Angola
and Namibia, through the provision of moral and material support to the nationalistic
movements in various nations.
The
African Development Bank that grew out of the OAU in 1967 became an invaluable
tool for mobilizing world finance for Africa development projects.
The
idea of coordinating and mobilizing international capital for the benefit of
Africa was of particular value during the 1970‟s and early 1980‟s.
Provision
of jobs and education to many African refugees, who came as a result of
internal conflicts in various African nations.
The
organization has taken measures to improve agriculture, industry, transport,
and communication trade and education cooperation in various countries.
The
meeting of heads of states each year to discuss problems and achievement of
continent is one of the achievements.
Many
conflicts have been solved by the organization in the continent e.g. the war
between Tanzania and Uganda 1978, Mali and Burkina Faso 1985 as well as Kenya
and Somalia in 1970.
OAU has
encouraged regional integration among is member states such as ECOWAS 1975,
SADC 1980, COMESA 1993 has its roots from OAU.
OAU has
achieved in acting as chief mediator between various African states to avoid
the occurrence of bloodshed e.g. between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
PICTURE SHOWING AFRICAN UNION PARLIAMENT
Problems faced Organization of African Union
-A
member states decide individually and voluntarily to be the member of the
organization and it could withdraw its membership at any time that it feels to
do so, this weakens the strength of the organization e.g Morocco is not a
member.
-No
legal sanction to enforce another big problem that faced OAU was that it was no
legal sanction to enforce its resolution.
-Member
state could decide to refuse or ignore to implement the organization decisions,
that is why it was always been blamed for being little more than „a talking
shop‟ with no
serious implementation of her resolutions.
-Lack of
adequate funds it largely based on the annual contribution of members states
most of the member states delayed to pay or defaulted to pay their
contributions, this made the organization to fail to run its activities.
-Unequal
development caused by poverty, illiteracy and unequal distribution of
resources.
-There
are many refugees in Africa which is the result of civil wars in many areas of
the continent such as Burundi, DRC Sudan and Somalia.
-The
continent is still poor depending on debts and loans from World Bank and I.M.F
with difficulty conditionality to fulfill.
-Differences
in language and religion, some societies are proud of their mother tongue other
countries are using English, others Arabic, and French every state or tribe
wanted to use the language of her interests.
-There
is tension between fundamentalists Muslims who want to apply sharia law while
Christians wants western system of democracy.
-African
countries are affected by natural disasters such as drought, floods, AIDS and
earthquake. These affect the welfare of the people.
-Difference
in ideology of the member states, head of states are unable to come together to
discuss their problems
-Lack of
a single currency to be used by all member states since it is not decided on to
be used; this hinders trade activities in the continent.
-Weak
economic base of many of the member states most of the member states had got
their independence from European imperialist nations, all are based on
production on production of primary goods of agriculture products and minerals
that fetched little prices,
-Terrorism
continues to plague the member states for example Uganda in 2010 over 70 people
were killed in a bomb attack. This is a great challenge to the continental
cooperation especially to the AU as the attack was carried out to push Uganda
for sending AU troops to serve in Somalia.
-Political
instability is still prevailing in some African countries for example in 2007
eminent persons from the AU had to come and assist Kenya to solve her electoral
disputes after they turned bloody.
East African Community (E.A.C)
PICTURE SHOWING EAST AFRICAN LOGO AND FLAG
The
East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organization comprising
five countries in East African states, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and
Uganda. The current EAC‟s chairman
is Pierre Nkurunzinza, the president of the republic of Burundi.
The
organization was originally found on June 1967, collapsed in 1977, and was
officially revived on July 7, 2000; Burundi and Rwanda joined the EAC on 6th
July 2009.
East
African Federation is also the second most populous nation in Africa (after
Nigeria) and eleventh in the world. The population density would be 70 people
the GDP (PPP) by IMF estimate would be $ 131,772,000 USD and be the fourth
largest in Africa and 55th in the world. The GDP per capital would be $1036
USD, the vernacular language would be Swahili and the official one would be
English. The proposed capital is the Tanzanian city of Arusha which is close to
the Kenyan border, Arusha is the current headquarters of the East African
Community, it was founded on June 1967, and the government of Tanganyika, Kenya
and Uganda signed a treaty in Kampala Uganda.
Aims of East African Community
·
To promote free trade in goods and services produced among the
members.
·
To provide common services such as railways, harbors, posts and
telecommunication.
·
To provide wider and more secure market for industrial and
agricultural goods.
·
To allow free movement of people in the region for trade
recreation and other socialactivities.
·
To achieve technological innovation and advancement
·
To conduct research activities in agriculture, population,
medicine and mining for itsdevelopment
·
It aims at solving regional problems jointly by the heads of the
member states.
Challenges to the federation of EAC / why the EAC is delaying to
form political union
-The
issue of free movement of labour, may be perceived as highly desirable in
Uganda and Kenya, and have important developmental benefits in Tanzania however
in Tanzania there is widespread resistance to the idea of ceding land rights to
foreigners, including citizens of Kenya and Uganda, Tanzania has more land than
all other EAC nations combined, and Tanzanians fear land grabs by the current
residence of the other EAC member nations.
-Land
scarcity is a recurring issue in east Africa, particularly in Kenya, where
clashes on the Kenyan side of Mount Elgon in 2007 left more than 150 dead and
forced at least 60,000 away from their home, this proves to be a big challenge
to the federation of East African community
-Changing
on power/power greediness, there is a political challenge to the confederation,
its political differences between the states. Museven‟s success in obtaining his
third term amendment and his unwillingness to relinquish power to others
raised doubts in the other countries.
-The
single party dominance in the Tanzanian and Ugandan parliaments is an
attractive to Kenyans, while Kenya‟s ethic politics is not apparent in Tanzania, Rwanda has a
distinctive political culture with a political elites committed to build a developmental
state, partly in order to safeguard the Tutsi group against a return to ethnic
violence.
-The
question of Zanzibar, apart from the above the confederation has got serious
challenge about the question of Zanzibar in Tanzania the question still stands
whether Zanzibar is a state or not, it‟s disturbing the member states in finding the solution.
-Involvement
in other regional integration, other problems involve states being reluctant to
relinquish involvement in other regional groups e.g. Tanzania‟s withdraw from COMESA but
staying within SADC bloc, such move make her to remain with double standards and
weaken the power of the confederation.
Tanzanians
are also concerned because creating a common market means removing tariffs from
all import which may turn the nation to become a dumping place for goods from
the federal states that may perturb the development of her domestic industries.
MAP SHOWING EAST AFRICA COUNTRIES
Why
East African Community collapsed in 1977
In 1977 the East African Community collapsed after ten years.
Causes for the collapse included
· -
Demands by Kenya for more seats than Uganda and Tanzania in
decision making organs.
·
-Disagreement with Ugandan dictator Idd Amin and disparate
economic system of socialism in Tanzania and capitalism system in Kenya.
· -
Unequal distribution of social services, the problem of the
distribution of different services, the distribution was more beneficial to
Kenya than Uganda and Tanzania.
·
-Border conflicts e.g. between Tanzania and Uganda during Idd
Amin
·
-The ideological disparity between the three countries, Tanzania
self reliance and socialism, Kenya capitalist ideology and Uganda fascism during
Idd Amin
· -
The organization had its roots from colonial period nothing
changed fundamentally that Britain went on benefiting through Kenya.
·
-The East African Bank failed a balance development of industries
in the three countries Kenya benefited more than Tanzania and Uganda in income
tax and custom duties.
·
-Currency differences the government restricted free transfer and
exchange of currency.This discourages interstate transaction in goods.
·
-Failure of the member country to contribute the agreed fees.
·
-The problem of the distribution of different services, the
distribution was more beneficial to Kenya than Uganda and Tanzania.
Following
this the three member state lost over sixty years of cooperation and the
benefits of economies of scale. However, some Kenyan government officials
celebrated the collapse with champagne each of the former member state had to
embark, at great expense and lower efficiency, up on establishment of services
and industries that had previously been provided at the community level.
The
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
It was
formed as the replacement of Southern African Development Coordination
Conferences (SADCC) formed in 1980. It was in 1993 when it was changed to SADC
this is an association of eleven countries such as Angola, Botswana, Lesotho,
Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South
Africa.
Objective of SADC
·
-To help member states to have a genuine and equitable regional
integration.
·
-To mobilize the regional resources for their benefits.
·
-To foster international cooperation.
·
-To enhance the development of industries, trade, mining,
agriculture and energyresources.
·
To improve transport and communication links
·
-To improve internal market.
Problems faced SADC
·
-Weak financial base, members rely on foreign aid and loan
· -
Members produce similar agricultural goods such as coffee, sisal
and tobacco which compete for market.
·
-All members depend on agricultural rather than industries, when
the prices of agricultural commodities fluctuates which leads to low earnings.
·
-Lack of qualified and skilled man power to run the organization,
they depend on foreign experts.
·
-Unequal distribution of the benefits of the associations
discourages other states.
· -
Every member tries to cater her national interests rather than
those of SADC
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
Before
1993 COMESA was known as preferential trade area for eastern and southern
Africa P.T.A. the heads of member states met at Kampala Uganda on 6th November
1993 and signed a treaty which created COMESA. A member of COMESA includes
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana,
Swaziland, Mauritius, Comoro, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Africa.
Objective of COMESA
· -
Promoting and facilitating cooperation among member countries in
trade, transport and communication.
· -
Harmonizing and coordinating development strategies, policies
and plans within the region.
· -
It encourages cooperation in monetary and financial affairs in
order to facilitate sub region integration.
· -
It aimed at establishing joint industries and agricultural
institution to raise the production capacity.
· -
It aims at reducing and eventually eliminating tariffs among
members in order to facilitate trade.
· -
It encourages economic independence of a region by establishing
strong economic base.
Achievements of COMESA
Member
states have become more cooperative in the field of trade, industry and
agriculture. The organization has also established the bank known as the trade
and development bank situated in Bujumbura Burundi which finances trade and
development projects
Problems facing COMESA
·
-Different levels of development of members of states.
· -
Poor transport shipping facilities and communication links
·
-Existence of too many currencies in the region,
·
-Weak economic base of member states e.g. dependency economies.
·
-Civil wars, natural calamities and neo colonialism
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
The
Economic Community of West Africa was formed on 28th may 1975, member states
includes Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Senegal, Benin, Mali, Niger, Burkina
Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leon, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Togo, Cameroon, Cape
Verde and Nigeria.
Aims of ECOWAS
·
ECOWAS aimed at removing barriers and allowing free movement of
people services and capital for the development of the member states.
· -
It aims at developing industries, agriculture and mining by
using good and applicable policies.
Achievement of ECOWAS
·
-The organization has managed to set energy resource development
fund for oil mining industry in the region.
·
-There have been agriculture and communication development of the
whole part of the region this has been through special fund to develop the
projects and through joint ventures between members.
Problems facing ECOWAS
·
-Each member wants to benefit more than the other members of the
community according to their interests.
· -
Political instability affects member states, there have been
civil wars and coup d‟état in the region, e.g. Nigeria, Sierra Leon, Liberia and
Ivory Coast.
· -
Poor communication network system in many parts of the region
hinders organization activities to all places.
· -
Language differences, other members are using English while
others French this led to communication barrier between the members.
·
-Lack of single currency creates the problem of the rate of
exchange between the member states.
·
-The problem of members to have a membership in more than one
organization and all theorganization have demands in terms of contribution i.e.
it‟s difficult to contribute membership to all the organization due to poverty
Common Wealth of Nations
The
common wealth of nations normally referred to as the common wealth and formerly
intergovernmental organization of 54 independent member states. All members
except Mozambique and Rwanda were part of the British Empire, out of which the
commonwealth developed.
The
common wealth is an intergovernmental organization in which countries with
diverse social, economic, and political backgrounds are regarded as equal in
status, not a political union. Activities of the common wealth are carried put
through the permanent commonwealth secretariat, headed by the secretary-general
and biennial meetings of commonwealth heads of government. The symbol of their
free association is the head of the commonwealth, which is ceremonial position
currently held by Queen Elizabeth II.
The
member states cooperate between a framework of common values and goals as it
outlined in the Singapore declaration. This includes the promotion of
democracy, human rights, good governance, and rule of law, individual liberty,
egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism and world peace.
Objectives of commonwealth
The commonwealth‟s
objectives were first outlined in the 1971 Singapore declaration which
committed to the commonwealth to the institution to the following objectives.
·
-Maintain world peace and stability
·
-Promotion of representative democracy and individual liberty.
·
-The pursuit of equality and opposition to racism.
·
-The fight against poverty, ignorance and diseases.
·
-To promote free trade to all member nations. To these was added
opposition to discrimination on the basis of gender by the Lusaka declaration of
1979.
· -
To maintain environmental sustainability by the Lang Kawi
declaration of 1989
These
objectives were reinforced by the Harare declaration in 1991 Generally, the
commonwealth‟s highest
priority aims are on the promotion of democracy and development, as outlined
in the 2003. Also rock declaration which built on those in Singapore and Harare
and clarified their terms of reference, stating we are committed to democracy,
good governance, human rights, gender equality as well as more equitable
sharing of the benefits of globalization.
The Objectives of the Different Regional Groupings in Africa
Analyse
the objectives of the different regional groupings in Africa
Objective
of different regional groupings in Africa
·
-To attain sustainable growth and development of member states
· -
To promote social, economic and political development
·
-To cooperate in the promotion of peace, security and stability
among member states
·
-To promote good relations between member states
· -
To promote trade and industrial developments
·
-To promote cultural cooperation
·
-To facilitate movement of people and goods in the region
·
To promote environmental protection and utilization of resources
Problems
resulting from the establishment of regional groupings on Africa
· -
Political instability example Angola, Kenya, Uganda, Siera
Leone, Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo
· -
Differences in political ideologies example Mozambique, Angola
and Tanzania pursued socialism while other member states pursued capitalism
· -
Language barrier example Mozambique and Angola is Portuguese
speaking,Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda are Kiswahili speaking, Rwanda and Burundi
are French speaking and the other member states use English as the main medium
of communication.
· -
Poor interstate communication
· -
Differences in economy
· -
Unequal gain by member states
· -
Different currency
·
-Foreign interference
·
-Failure to remit contribution required by the regional
organizations
·
-Boarder quarrels between member states example Nigeria and
Cameroon, Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as Tanzania and Malawi/Uganda.
· -
Personality differences between political leaders of member
states
· -
Civil wars among member states example Northern and Southern
Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Achievements and Problems Resulting from the Establishment
of Regional Grouping and their Impact on Africa
Critically
analyse the achievements and problems resulting from the establishment of
regional grouping and their impact on Africa
Achievements
resulting from the establishment of regional groupings on Africa
· -
Promotes culture of democratic governance, accountability and
respect for human rights
·
-Expansion of employment opportunity among the member states
·
-Trade liberalization among the member states
·
-Improvement of transport and communications in order to ease
movement of services,people and goods in the region.
·
-Provision of market for member states‟ commodities.
·
-Enhancing and standardizing the quality of education in the
region.
· -
Promotion of democracy and the rule of law in the region
· -
Boosting of economic cooperation among member states by
formulating economic,financial and monetary policies for the organization.
· -
Sharing of social services such as water resources and
electricity among the member states
· -
Enhancing peace and security in the region by establishing
regional multinational force like the Economic Community Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG) in the Western part of Africa.
Problems/challenges
resulting from Africa’s participation in International Affairs
· -Failure to intervene quickly in Africa to avoid catastrophes
·
-They depend on contributions of member states. Unfortunately a
majority of its members in Africa are poor countries, who are unable to remit
their contributions.
· -
Ideological differences between different nations globally
especially among the major powers. Following this African countries fall victim
depending on which side they support in the global tensions even today.
·
-The use of veto powers by the permanent members of the Security
Council. African countries added their voice to demand that some African states
also acquire this veto power in order to level the status of international
relations.
BASIC
ASSIGNMENT/ ACTIVITY TO DO
1. Why has
the dream of united Africa not been achieved up to now?
2. What
are the major achievements and problems of the organization of Africa unity
since its formation?
3. What
are the problems in the process of establishing regional economic integration
in Africa?
4. Show
success and shortcoming of United Nations Organization?
5. Analyze
the objectives and problems of SADC
6. What
are the achievements and problem of ECOWAS?
7. What
are the problems and achievement facing African Union?
8. Show
how african countries have benefited from being members of the UN
9. Discuss
the benefits Tanzania get from Commonwealth Community
10. With
examples show challenges that likely to face the new African Union
11. What
are the problems and achievements of African countries to participate
in international affairs
Africa in
International Affairs
The independent African states had been participating in
international affairs through joining International Organizations. These
international organizations exist into two types namely;
·
International Governmental Organizations (IGOs)
These are organizations made up of two or more sovereign states
for example The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and THE World
Health Organization
·
International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)
These
are organizations made up of individuals or private groups for example
International Red Cross, Amnesty International and Transparency International.
The Objectives of Africa's Participation in International
Affairs
Explain
the objectives of Africa's participation in international affairs
Objectives
of participating in international affairs
·
To demonstrate African sovereignty by participating in the global
affairs
·
To receive more international attention by participating in the
General Assembly of United Nations
·
To put African continent in a strategic situation in the
struggle between the Easternand the Western bloc during the cold war by
participating in the Non-AlignmentMovement for the aim of being able to receive
support from both sides.
·
To give African continent forum through which they could discuss
their continentalaffairs by participating in the Organization of African Unity
·
To enhance Africa‟s development in collaboration with their
English speaking states that are more developed. By participating in the
Commonwealth of Nations.
·
To coordinate cooperation of the Francophone and their former
colonial masters by participating in the French Community.
·
To show solidarity with other states of the world especially
during emergencies by participating in the affairs of International
Non-Governmental Organizations.
The Achievements and Problems Resulting from Africa's
Participation in International Affairs
Critically
assess the achievements and problems resulting from Africa's participation in
international affairs
Achievements
of African to participate in the International Affairs (UN)
·
Peaceful resolution of conflicts through UN by using
peacekeepers, observer missions,special envoys and mediators to intervene in
volatile areas. For example the peacekeeping operation have taken place in
Africa include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and
Somalia.
·
Efforts towards disarmament done by UN over the years it has
spearheaded the crusade towards reducing dangerous arms in the world especially
nuclear weapons for example several treaties have been signed with the aim of
cutting down numbers of nuclear weapons including the Strategic Arms Limitation
Talks (SALT)
·
Promotions towards the protection of human rights for example
the General Assembly adopted the universal declaration of human rights in 1948
which identifies the universal rights and freedoms of a person in spite of age,
gender or race.
·
Promotion of humanitarian efforts including support for
refugees, relief provision for those in distress like those experiencing natural
calamities.
·
Promotion for democracy and good governance for example in 1970s
South Africa and Southern Rhodesia were slapped with UN sanctions due to failure
in the area of democracy and good governance.
·
Establishment of environmental programs that fight against
environmental degradation by helping the global community to realize the dangers
of the climatic change particularly global warming and how to reduce the
dangers. For example the United Nations Environmental Program whose headquarters
is in Nairobi Kenya.
·
Fighting for underdevelopment through establishment of different
programs such as United Nations Development Program (UNDP) this assists nations
of the world to strategize on how to uplift development through
industrialization and agriculture.
·
Promotion of health, education and cultural interaction among
the people of the world regardless of their race, languages and geographical areas.