America-Africa Leader’s Summit scheduled to take place on August 4th-6th is a great opportunity for both America and Africa to renew their relationship and also to strategies the new path for their cooperation and partnership.
America has been a great traditional partner of Africa. It has been instrumental in both economic and political development of Africa in many ways. It has also been instrumental in the implementation of Millennium Goal Development ( MDG’s) projects in areas of education, health, Agriculture and trade.
The recent lost glory between Africa and the US due to geopolitical issues and the indication of certain African leaders by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing crimes against humanity has been critical and has had adverse effects to the development of most African countries creating serious economic and political setbacks. Most African countries to date cannot stand on their own without donor community support
China’s influence over Africa has risen in the recent past due to the lackluster relationship between Africa and its other traditional partners like America, European s and Japan. Although Africa has been looking East especially China due to pressure from the West, it is not very clear how much Africa has achieved in terms of political development because China’s relationship with Africa is purely business and trade.
However, the US should not renew its relationship with Africa simply to counter China’s influence as that is likely to boomerang in the sense that it will create political setbacks in several African countries where leadership is still autocratic and not democratic.
Like other European partners, Japan etc. who cherishes democracy and believe in the Rule of law for good governance practice, America should remain focused and should not relent in demanding for good governance practice among African leaders. African cannot continue to depend on donor aid for survival. Likewise it cannot remain dark and backward forever simply because of bad leadership and corruption.
It is naïve for African leaders to argue that the continent is still poor and unstable because it is still young and therefore cannot be compared with other developed and developing nations. Africa is now in its second stage of development. Most countries of Africa are celebrating fifty years after independence and therefore have every opportunity to enhance development of their people just like other developed and developing nations in the world.
US- Africa Leader’s Summit will only have a meaning if African leaders take advantage of it for the benefit of their own people. America is a world power with lots of opportunities and advantages that Africa can benefit from. As much as the US also has a lot to gain from such relationship Africa stands a better chance if it remains focused and understand the US policy well.
The US- Africa Leader’s Summit is not unique. Other world power great countries like China, Japan, and European Union has held similar forums in the past such as TICAD V, FOCAC etc. to enhance partnership with Africa. It is upon Africa to take advantage of such cooperation and friendship with developed countries to advance their interests for the benefit of the African people.
Such international Summits, forums and conferences etc. provide excellent opportunities for African leaders to expedite and to present a continental agenda on the table for discussions. Africa as a continent is facing serious challenges that require immediate solutions. Such challenges range from internal conflicts as a result of power struggle, tribalism and nepotism, bad governance and corruption. Insecurity as a result of terrorism and religious terror groups such as Boko Haram, Al Shabaab etc. Other challenges include poverty.
Many African countries among them Central African Republic, DR Congo, Egypt Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia among others are grappling with various challenges threatening peace, stability and regional economic integration.
It is high time that Africa arises to the reality of the world for its own development. The US- Africa Leaders’ Summit like other such international forums provide Africa with opportunities to revitalize itself and to review challenges and opportunities necessary for its economic, political and social growth.
Poverty, diseases, unemployment, insecurity and political instability largely as a result of bad governance and irresponsible leadership is still on the rise in Africa and is hindering peace and stability in the continent.
Many African leaders are still living in the past and therefore require international pressures, interventions and mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) not only to control their behaviors and conduct but also to ensure the practice of good governance, democracy and respect to Human Rights and the Rule of law.
The writer is the Director General at the Institute for Democracy & Leadership in Africa- IDEA
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