USA Africa Dialogue Series - Why Gaza Matters for Africa

Why Gaza Matters

For Africa

1.   If you studied South African history, you would fully grasp some of the strategies deployed by the IDF. You may even reinterpret what you thought you understood about South Africa,  through the lens of Gaza. That is why South African leaders, whether of the African National Congress (ANC), or the Economic Freedom  Fighters (EFF), are deeply touched by  this crisis. They have seen this script enacted on the South African stage, during the apartheid era, in evictions, passes, wanton killings,and  callous disregard for the survival of the Black population. By officially launching the charge of genocide against Israel,on December 29, 2023, South Africa has fulfilled the request of many Africans, at home or abroad. Many recall the anti-colonial liberation struggles of the 20th century.

2. No other conflict, to date, exposes more clearly, the hypocrisy of the Biden administration,  and the West, with respect to R2P (the Right -to -Protect ideology), human rights, and the definitions of genocide. How would  this hypocrisy manifest itself in Africa in 2024, and beyond?

3. The massacre of thousands of children, has taken place in Gaza. What effective mechanisms can we use to halt such systematic atrocities? What changes should be made to the UN Charter and UNICEF, to save children?

4. No other crisis so vividly illustrates how  combustible, theology and politics could be, and  their capabilities in inciting unspeakable violence when weaponized by bad actors.

5. No other conflict, in recent memory, involves such systematic killing of journalists,  deliberate destruction of hospitals, schools, and places of refuge, and  deliberate withholding of food - simultaneously.  It is a wake-up call for the implementation of effective conflict management strategies, globally.

6. This conflict is about power, resistance, and the excessive use of force, by both the victim and the victimizer, with important lessons for political observers, and activists, in Africa and elsewhere.

7.  This conflict is a wake-up call for Africa to put its house in order. The  words of even the Secretary - General of the United Nations fell on deaf ears. Africa must build its economic and military power base, and engage in cautious coalition building. It must consolidate strategic alliances, and strong regional empowerment mechanisms.

 Gloria Emeagwali

Dr. Gloria Emeagwali
Professor of History/African Studies, CCSU
Chief Editor- "Africa Update"
https://sites.ccsu.edu/afstudy/archive.html
Gloria Emeagwali's Documentaries
www.vimeo.com/gloriaemeagwali
www.africahistory.net
Founding Coordinator, African Studies, CCSU