Arise Africa, Before It's Too Late! (Part II)
Folks, when I see the crossfire that is raging in the Middle East, specifically the ongoing war between Israel (which fired the first shot) and Iran, I am worried sick about Africa, about the future of a fragmented Africa. An aspect of this war that is thought-provoking is the relative ease with which the Israeli Mossad broke through the security fences of Iran during the early rounds of the crossfire. It suggests that Mossad has a good number of insiders (meaning Iranians themselves) serving as its secret agents and informants. Beyond the fact that we empathize with fellow human beings who are subjected to wanton destruction of lives anywhere in the world, why should the Mossad aspect of this burning inferno be of interest to any of us? If Iran, which is arguably much better organized and more technologically equipped than an average African country, can be so easily penetrated by a ferocious foreign intelligence service, what do you think would happen to a given African country that might face a similar situation of being militarily attacked by a foreign power?
Given that African countries are literally not only surrounded by predatory powers (including, in some instances, stupidly allowing their sovereign territories to serve as military bases for certain geopolitical powers) but are also deeply penetrated by foreign intelligence services through our own African "brothers" and "sisters" who slavishly serve as their agents and informants, how many hours would it take for an African country to be over-powered by any external power that would venture to attack it? Your guess is as good as mine. God gave us the discretion and capacities to take charge of our lives on this planet, to be masters of this earth. God helps those who help themselves. We need more than prayers to safeguard the future of Africa.
With a sense of urgency, Africa must do away with an implicit practice of waiting for one savior or the other from either the West or the East and shift to a paradigm and guiding principle of self-reliance on all socioeconomic, political, technological, international finance, regional and continental security matters, along with of course necessary alliances and cooperation with external powers. No nation or region is an island unto itself. I recall a recent revelation by a former South African external affairs minister to the effect that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the West showed reluctance in releasing COVID-19 vaccines to African countries. Well, for one, Western societies had a just reason and a primary responsibility for first taking care of their people before extending help to other nations. The vaccines were not produced without costs, and so, the West was correct to demand payments from any external party that sought to acquire them. But what visible lessons has Africa learned from that experience? Have African countries embarked on coordinated applied research, human capital development, and institutional building designed to enable Africa to produce its vaccines for future epidemics and pandemics, or is Africa still in a state of slumber with outstretched hands, waiting for a Father Christmas who will bail it out if another epidemic or pandemic occurs? One of the things that Western societies are generally good at is self-correction and a constant striving for continuous quality improvement due to a vibrant mixed market economy in which the private sector plays a dominant role as a producer of goods and services. An average Western economy is a relatively self-sufficient economic entity that competitively engages with other nations. Suppose a fire erupts in a governmental building, a typical Western society will not be content with putting out the fire. It will also work hard to determine the causal factors and put policies in place to prevent a recurrence. It's a highly maintenance-conscious culture due to the salutary impact of a vibrant private sector of the economy and a generally accountable system of governance in which the voter counts, and the voter determines winners and losers in given elections. These are positive lessons that Africa needs to emulate.
As the world scene vibrates with terror, fear, and uncertainty amidst a resurgence of vulgar imperial impulses, can't African national leaders read the handwriting on the wall? What else needs to happen for Africa to expeditiously move to a "United Confederation of African States" with a rotational 4-year "president-general" (that is, every 4 years, the incumbent Head of State of a given African country, would take over as the president-general of the United Confederation of African states), an effective common parliament with equal representation from the constituent countries of Africa, a common Army, a common Navy, a common Airforce, a common intelligence apparatus, a common currency, and dual continental citizenship for all Africans that would allow for a truly free movement of not just goods and services, but also of professionals in all areas of life?
Arise, Africa before it is too late!!! Don't wait for what happened to your ancestors to repeat itself.
Under this proposed confederation of African states, the constituent countries would still take charge of their national economies to be aligned with the expectations and goals of The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); they will still take charge of their national security apparatuses to be aligned with an African continental security apparatus; and they will still take charge of their foreign policies to be aligned with a unifying framework of African Continental Foreign policy guidelines; and the president-general will be responsible for the macro economic, political, and security coordination and cooperation necessary for the collective wellbeing, collective protection, and collective defense of the African continent. The African parliament will reserve the right to sanction and vote out of office a president-general who demonstrably acts in ways that are manifestly anti-African and against the overall African interest and replace him or her with the national president of the country that is next in line for that continental leadership—that is, the Office of the President-General.
Africa, time is not on your side. You must act now, not later.
--Sorry about that.
I expected Iran to protect theirleaders and nuclear scientistsbetter than they did - andIsrael their spies.
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
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"I myself do not judge a man [or a woman] by the color of his [or her] skin. The yardstick that I use to judge a man [or a woman] is his [ or her] deeds, his [her] behavior, and his [or her] intentions." -- Malcolm X.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
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