By Paul Wafula

NAIROBI, KENYA: African leaders gathered in Addis Ababa this weekend to mark the climax of weeklong celebrations of the 50th year since the founding of the Africa Union.

The marking of the AU anniversary is being held in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. It is happening at a time opinion is divided on the success of its mandate.

The AU website says the anniversary will ‘facilitate and celebrate African narratives of past, present and future that will enthuse and energise the African population and use their constructive energy to accelerate a forward looking agenda of pan-Africanism and renaissance’.

The celebrations, expected to attract about 75 Heads of State and governments will include a commemorative summit, sporting and cultural events as well as a gala dinner. The AU says the meeting will be concluded with the adoption of a ‘landmark’ proclamation.

Colonial remains

The AU succeeded the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), a pan African body formed in 1963. OAU’s main objectives were to: “rid the continent of the remaining vestiges of colonisation and apartheid; to promote unity and solidarity among African States. It was also formed to co-ordinate and intensify cooperation for development, to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states and to promote international co-operation within the framework of the United Nations.”

Half a century later, the AU has attracted as many critics as its supporters given that the continent still lags behind its peers on development in the political and economic fronts despite its huge potential.

The continent’s more than 1 billion population remains sharply divided along ethnic, religious, cultural and even language barriers. Its narrative paints a picture of a continent yet to tap its potential. 

Though many agree that the organisation, which was letter changed to the AU, had largely achieved its primary role of liberating Africa from the chains of colonialism and apartheid, the three other goals remain debatable.

Worst conflicts

The AU also prides itself in having been at the forefront in resolving some of the worst conflicts and disputes in the continent after it formed a Peace and Security Council in 2004.

Analysts, however, say the AU has failed to promote co-operation for development given that the continent still has very little trading internally, but relying heavily on trading partners outside the continent.

“The AU has failed to have its members open up borders to trade with one another, locking up the over one billion population on the continent. This has been a mere talking shop or a toothless dog if I may call it that way,” Dr Herman Manyora, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, told The Standard on Saturday in an interview.  Dr Manyora also takes issue with the softness the union has had when it comes to promoting good politics on the continent, a factor that has manured dictatorial regimes.

“The AU seems to support poor politics that is to blame for poor leadership on the continent. It has a tendency of looking away in cases where people have taken leadership by coups or where elected leaders have turned into dictators. I don’t need to name them because they are well known the world over,” Dr Manyora added.

Analysts also fault the pace at which the union was able to create the African Union mission on Somalia, Amisom.

“The AU took a bit too long to support the intervention in Somalia and this should tell you its capacity in addressing critical issues on the continent in time,” Dr Manyora said.  Amisom yesterday celebrated the 50th anniversary of the formation of the OAU in Mogadishu, an event presided over by Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. 

“No one likes Pan Africanism and African Renaissance better than Somalia. This is where the whole Africa converges to support Somalia. Somalia is, therefore, a strong example of African co-operation. Africa has the potential to make the 21st Century, the African century. The African Union is a community of nations that stand side by side to find African solutions for our problems,” President Mohamud said.

External sources

But it is its reliance on external sources of funding that remains a sticky ground for the body that has been around for the past five decades.

This has raised a lot of concern about independence of the organisation. Its quality of leadership has also attracted a fair share of criticism given that some who have headed the organisation have been accused of running down their countries. 

As the African leaders gather in to map out the next 50 years of political and economic integration, one of the main concerns would be the growing influence of China on the continent.

The 50th year anniversary comes at a time President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua Sang face charges at the International Criminal Court  (ICC) over political unrest in 2008.

Convincing the AU to have Kenya pull out of the Rome Statute is one of the country’s main interests. Kenya’s other interest is the deployment of a standby force in Somalia, as part of its exit strategy in the war tone nation.

During his recent controversial trip to Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Nigeria and Ghana, Ruto is said to have met respective Heads of State and shared with them Kenya’s vision.

“The Deputy President discussed issues of the deployment of an African Rapid Deployment Force, which will be at the disposal of and funded by African Nations,” the Government said in statement defending the trip.