Africa is a continent billed for greatness through the principles of Pan-Africanism for African unity but bogged down by clashing visions and now standing at a historical crossroads.
From the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union, where is Africa going and where is the purpose. Africa as a continent should be at the forefront in leading innovations and developments but regrettably, Africa’s brightest minds are leaving the continent because they don’t see a future at home whereas there are millions of treasures in our land. What reforms can be done? Is the African Union capable of the growth of Africa or has it become its bottleneck?
Recently, while addressing intelligence chiefs from across the continent at the Mashariki Cooperation Conference in Mombasa. William Ruto, the president of Kenya said, "I can tell you without an iota of doubt that the African Union, as it is today, is not fit for purpose, it is not fit to provide the leadership that this continent needs."
Ruto’s statement is bold, as he is tasked to lead the reform needed in the African Union.
Now we may ask, what type of reform does the AU need at this time or will it be a topic for more conferences that will elicit plenty of ideas with no actionable or implementable outcome?
The United Nations in its report projects that by 2050, Africa's population could be estimated at 2.5 billion. This means that Africa could have about 25 percent share of the world’s population. What programmes or what leadership can the African Union provide to be able to harness Africa's human and mineral resources and lead such a huge number of people in the continent?
After nearly a quarter-century of the AU experimenting with a vision of “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” This call to reform the AU for the future, tasks the mind for the purpose of the earlier reform from the Organisation of African Unity which was teased that the OAU failed at post colonial economic issues, internal conflicts and human rights issues and with its non-interference policy, there was a need to reform to the African Union which as assumed, has failed.
The AU has failed in securing peace, stability and security of the peoples of the continent, failed to raise the living standards of African people's, failed to secure economic independence and many more from the objectives of its set up, and failed to be a dynamic force in the global arena. It took the position of indifference in many conflicts and vulnerabilities of the continent. As it is now with South Africa’s Operation Dudula - a xenophobic movement.
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It is a concern to the peoples of Africa who have lost more hope than confidence in the future of Africa.
AU as constituted, aims to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States. But It cannot act outside of the powers it currently has. Its force is derived from the member states as it only functions as a union without teeth. Like the OAU, AU is affected by the supremacy of sovereignty, whose allegiance often lies not with the continent but with the external control and the interests of former colonial nations.
The AU itself, modelled after the EU, is being funded by member states through a 0.2% levy on eligible imports which member states often fail to pay and external funds from international partners whose interests for funding overlaps the interest of Africa. This has weakened the Union and hampered the realisation of its objectives.
With lack of internal funding, AU cannot exclusively serve the interest of Africa. Leading to it being silent where they are needed to act and fail in the integration drive nor become the dynamic force in the global arena. Will William Ruto’s reform tackle this financial situation deeply?
William Ruto, taking over the Paul Kagame task force is tasked to seek the reform of the African Union to “realign the structure, functions, and focus of the African Union Commission, AU organs, and specialised agencies to make them more effective and efficient in implementing the Union's programmes.”
Will the reform give executive authority to the African Union Commission? Will the authority be binding across the sovereign nations? Will the current AU be torn for a new organisation? Will it bear the same name like a new wine in an old jar? How will the AU be made effective to cater to the fleeing youths who don’t hunger to return once left and how will it secure its place in the economic security, tech future, digital opportunities and economic developments?
Even with the youth agenda, the AU had always been seen as a union for African leaders where they meet once a year, take turns to speak, fly back to their countries without any tangible outcome to affect the respective citizens towards employment opportunities, growth and development. Africa today has a youth unemployment crisis rendering many vulnerable. In the raging reform, what is in there for the large percentage of the young population? What hope could they instill in the youth that Africa is indeed the future of the world.
In over sixty years, from the OAU to AU, there have been some achievements though not exclusively felt by the African peoples. From nations independence to having a permanent seat at the G20, African Continental Free Trade Area when fully successful will be a single continental free market area and with visa free in view; free movement of the peoples, will integrate Africa and boost economic cooperation.
When viewed in tangible terms, it may be seen that in over 60 years, the achievements could be summed up as minimal. Which questions to be asked if the AU is relevant at all?
To further African integration, the AU is relevant but hampered by the lack of economic and financial independence orchestrated by the heads of the member states, lack of political will from the leaders tied to external interests and corruption.
If African leaders want the African Union to work, it is not through the elegance of their speeches of needed reform but by political will to fundamentally detach and divorce from external interests and dependencies, have backbone to institute tangible reforms, and be visionary. Fight corruption and be in solidarity towards African’s development.
African leaders and the African Union must secure economic independence.
There is no independence without economic independence which is why Africa is plundered, exploited and continued insecurity among other issues.
In today’s Angle, one thing remains clear: the African Union cannot continue as a 'monument of intentions and visions.' the transition from the OAU to the AU, as we have seen, transformed from 'non-interference' of the past to the 'indifference' of the present.
The future of Africa cannot wait again. The 2.5 billion Africans will be looking for a continent that values its own treasures and how to win.