Here are 7 Ways the African Union can Move Away from its Egregious External Strategy

Here are 7 Ways the African Union can Move 

Away from its Egregious External Strategy

By E.K.Bensah Jr

Back in March, I had the priviledge of visiting the African Union, while in Addis for some capacity-building on peace and security of the AU, and I was pretty impressed with the tall building the Chinese are building for the organisation.

Germany's GIZ is also building the AU's Peace and Security Department, and will be completed by 2012. It ought to remind the world, then, that the AU has "arrived" in grand style on managing peace and security.

What irked me, though, were my impressions when I landed in Addis eight days earlier. Given that I want this to be a positive thing, let me offer solutions for the way forward:

First, the AU should have some Memorandum of Understanding between itself and Ethiopian Airlines that would enable it showcase the AU to regular and first-time visitors in the plane. Alright, show your movies, but have a twenty-minute video of what the AU is, what it does and where it will be in the future! Instead, what you have is a fairly modern airport that does not give any impression that it is the capital of African diplomacy.

Secondly, the AU should arrange for every blessed hotel in Addis to host an AU flag. A quick drive through Addis and you will be surprised at the city’s inability to convey that “Africanness” you feel when you arrive in Brussels. From Zaventem airport to the heart of Brussels, where the institutions are, you are likely to see more than hundred symbols depicting that Brussels is the diplomatic capital of Europe! While flags are not the end-all and be-all, they are certainly a step in reminding all and sundry that the AU lives there!

Third, the AU should have information bureaus in every AU country. Failing that, it should have diplomatic missions in “strategic” countries, such as Algeria; Nigeria; Ghana; Senegal. It would admittedly be expensive to have an information bureau or mission in every country, so being selective about the countries where they should be hosted would make sense. In Ghana, only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has information about the AU, and if you can hold your head in disbelief for a second, it is nothing more than a “desk”. Simply put, they are telling the world that ECOWAS and AU might be important, but they are unwilling to spend resources to project the growing power of the AU. If we can accept that the Cantonments-based “The Round House” is home to the EU in Ghana, why can we not have a comparative mission in the AU in every AU member state? Does the AU not think this to be important enough?

Fourth, the AU is on New Media; it can be found on https://www.facebook.com/pages/African-Union/454340075407 . Truth be told, the AU is now a bit more proactive on Facebook, but could still do better. Despite the fact that it has some 2457 “likes”, it seems to have been overwhelmed by the enormity of the “likes” to the extent that it has not yet managed to respond to one single criticism or query on its apparent ineffectiveness. That said, I must give the AU benefit of the doubt when on 21 September last year, they run a campaign months earlier on http://www.makepeacehappen.net to raise awareness of 21 September as AU and UN Peace Day, and to celebrate the launch of the AU’s Year of Peace and Security. They have regrettably lost the momentum on that, and let the site atrophy without regular updates. 

Fifth, while it is not solely the work of the AU, it should be the frontline actor pushing to ensure that citizens of AU member states travel to the home of the African Union visa-free! In Ghana, cost of a visa is certainly not as prohibitive as that of an EU member state, but it is one cost too many. If we are to accelerate continental unity – whether through the regional economic communities or otherwise – free movement must be an imperative of the solution. If Europeans can travel freely to Brussels, why must Africans have such difficulty traveling throughout the continent?

Which leads me to the sixth point: cost of airline tickets. The AU is a member of the Association of African Airlines(AFRAA), which has for many years been campaigning for airline fuel costs to come down. As recently as July this year, AFRAA initiated measures to tackle the high cost of Aviation Fuel(Jet A1),which is a major operational cost item in the industry.
 

The AFRAA secretariat has resolved to assist airlines meet with fuel marketers to reduce fuel costs in conformity with stipulations in the AFRAA 2011  – 2013 Business Plan. The irony of it all is that the Ethiopian Airlines I have mentioned above is one of those airlines, alongside Kenya Airways, that do not want to be members of AFRAA.

Finally, the AU must get serious on re-vamping the websites of all its institutions, including those of any AU delegations around the world. These should all be found on the main AU site. Up-and-coming institutions like the African Monetary Fund; African Central Bank; and African Investment Bank ought by now to have had websites—at least in beta form—to showcase their history and where they are going. Without these, how are African citizens ever going to know about what the AU does, and how people can help achieve their vision?

from: http://www.thebftonline.com/bft_subcat_linkdetails.cfm?prodcatID=6&tblNewsCatID=63&tblNewsID=9398

In 2009, in his capacity as a “Do More Talk Less Ambassador” of the 42^nd Generation—an NGO that promotes and discusses Pan-Africanism--Emmanuel gave a series of lectures on the role of ECOWAS and the AU in facilitating a Pan-African identity. Emmanuel owns "Critiquing Regionalism" (http://www.critiquing-regionalism.org). Established in 2004 as an initiative to respond to the dearth of knowledge on global regional integration initiatives worldwide, this non-profit blog features regional integration initiatives on MERCOSUR/EU/Africa/Asia and many others. You can reach him on ekbensah@ekbensah.net / Mobile: 0268.687.653.

The AU has a New Website, Albeit in Beta

Belated Happy AU Day! Though it has been a while since I wrote in here, I have been powerfully scanning the horizon on issues of African unity.

I am glad to read on the AU website that the AU is well and truly pursuing the issue of the AU Commission being transformed into an African Union Authority(AUA). The documents in question can be found here: http://www.africa-union.org/root/ua/Actualites/2010/mai/legal%20Counsel%20meeting.doc and http://www.africa-union.org/root/ua/Conferences/2010/mai/OLC/17-21mai/NV%20Legal%20Experts%20Meeting%2017-21%20May%202010%20Eng0001.pdf.

Interestingly, too, the AU, to celebrate AU Day in its 47th year, has come out with a new website, which can be visited here: http://www.au.int/?q=home.

Africa should do well to remember that UNITY is the only option. This is not inconsistent with the pursuit of programmes that facilitate regional economic integration--as exemplified by the UNECA-mandated eight regional groupings

Africa CAN--MUST--Unite!

How Quickly one Forgets Libya's Instrumentality in the AU!!

PANAF NewsAlerts 008


Editor’s Note


The 14th Summit draw much World attention, thanks in particular to Maummar al-Ghaddafi. His rebuke of the African Union should also command your awareness. While we’re at it, let’s also thank him for spearheading the creation of the AU itself. How quickly we forget Sirte, indeed his birthplace. The Sirte Declaration paved the way for the AU to be realized, and something of substance, far removed from the talk shop days of the OAU. You could actually see milk teeth appearing in new inter-governmental organization save for the usual Heads of State directing the affairs of the continent according to their own interests. Yet these gradualists, as they are called, worked diligently this past year to sideline political unity for Africa. Red Card! We all know why the AU was created, and we all know the urgency of our complete unification. To make progress at every step of the way is imperative to our survival as a people on Earth. One people, Africa! So, as we see very poignantly in Haiti, to delay aid means one’s life. We should be rushing to unify, to come to each other’s aid, especially during crisis. And so, the gradualists tighten our noose, ridiculing the creation of a continental federation of African states. How can we protect our dream? In this PANAF News Alert, I offer you an article from Speaker of the Gambian Assembly, the Honorable Elizabeth Renner, who reminds us that leaders, especially our Heads of State in Africa, are not the catalysts for change. She pleads to the masses to entrench and intertwine their lives within Pan African action. Ditto that message for the African Diaspora. In anycase, I think you’ll enjoy hearing positive developments from the Nigerian Community in Gambia. Elsewhere, I point you to


Did you know that Guinea, Madagascar, and Eritrea were recently booted from the AU? The former two were suspended due to “coups”. The latter due to an accusation that the state was sponsoring Somali militants. A quick biased judgment was made on Guinea that led to. And it is clear that the change of power was urgently necessary in Madagascar for the sake of the people and environment. Eritrea, well, let’s ask, who doesn’t have a hand in Somali affairs? If the AU will be partial to certain interests when it comes to membership within its structure then we have certainly a compromised institution. The AU can not condone political coersion and violent control on one hand, and punish a popular revolution on the other. Perhaps it was good gesture for Mr.DJ to boycott the 14th Summit. Lastly, an update on the repatriation of Haitians to Africa, and for those excited about the new direction of the AU, I’ve included an AU press release on its slick new flag and an article about the integration of NEPAD into the AU Structure.


Nkosi Sekele Afrika!

Ikeme

Facebook Friday:What's Cooking in the "Statusophere" on AU?

It's been a while since I asked a question that generated as much discussion as this one this pastt week. My questions was:

The EU tells us that with the Lisbon strategy, they will become a competitive economy by 2020. The African Union*AU* tells us that they will be united by...2034!! 14 years too late my brothers! Wake up and smell the burning gold and cocoa that is being shipped out. Africa MUST--Can-- Unite! Now. Be the change you want to see!

Kindly find below a screen capture of the responses to the question:









Best of the weekend!

What Have YOU done for Africa / your sub-region Today?

For the past week, have spent the better part of the period reading through and around issues of African regional integration. It hasn't been an easy feat as I am a fan of both other regionalisms beyond that of Africa.

As this is one dedicated to Africa, permit me to stick solely on this and refer you to my Critiquing Regionalism website for other ones.

Germany seems to be particularly interested in the ECOWAS region, describing it thus:

Being the prime engine of regional integration on the African continent, ECOWAS is currently undergoing impressive transformations aimed at defining new priorities and objectives. The ECOWAS priorities and objectives may also serve as a source of inspiration for other regional groupings anywhere else in the world.

I could not help but wonder if Germans could be so enthused about ECOWAS, what are we Africans, and West Africans specifically doing about it? I appreciate the fact that many of us would prefer thinking about trekking overseas before anything else, and that some of us already have been and are thinking of staying to make our sub-region better. But at least, I cannot but wonder why,say, those in West Africa--where there are many intellectuals and intelligent youth are not making--or taking--the time to extol the virtues of a secure and safe West Africa.

Do we have to wait for Westerners to do it for us?

Facebook Friday: AU government--Realistic?

Below is just a sample of what some Facebookers were saying earlier this year about AU government. Enjoy!:

the EU, USA are not in favour and will fight it with the backing of some AU country Heads. Remember, the our skin colour even gives us away most of the time when black africans deal with light skinned africans. Besides, our barriers are many: language, democratic/coup d'etat/dictatorship rule, currency and so on..

I guess what we need is the proverbial eternal vigilance!

I think the government is realistic. We just have to educate our people on the benefits and sell the idea wholly to them. We do preach Africa Unite sometimes but we are mostly locked into our nationalities.

The language barrier isn't too much of an issue, they have had AU meetings since time immemorial. We need the AU gov't to push for a currency, better trade, communication, cross-country infrastructure as well.

Why is the EU or USA not in favour?

I think it's simply that they would consider a population of 900million people working hard to strengthen Africa a veritable threat. It's that simple.

its a question of challenging the ideas that have come to dominate our lives. The task of re-orienting the minds of a people is huge. One cannot underestimate the nationalism that has taken hold of Africans...the funny ideas that they can be superior to others simply by being who they are.

What we must focus on is what binds us and to reach out for the younger generation who may not be too stuck in their ways. (We cannot also forget the oldest among us who still hold on with nostalgia to the early years of African Independence) Simple things like football music the arts and culture can speak to people in ways that words may not easily do...But it has to be sold as part of a wider plan to improve the peoples lot. In the end it has to be a Peoples Initiative!