The United States of Africa
Continental Pan-Africanism for the 21st Century
"We ask all the heads of state to hold a referendum so that they will see that all the people want a United States of Africa" -Moamer Gaddafi
Last week at the African Union summit meeting in Ghana, Africa’s leaders devoted particular concentration to African unity. A contingent of administrators, led by Libyan President Moamer Kadhafi, called for the establishment of a pan-African government composed of African states. Kadhafi’s United States of Africa would cooperate economically and share common defense policies. During the summit meeting Liberia, Senegal, Ethiopia and Chad endorsed the immediate founding of such a Government.
Although more influential administrators representing Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa ultimately rejected Kadhafi’s plan, almost all African policymakers support increasing continental economic integration and the strengthening of the chronically undersupplied African Union (AU). AU peacekeepers are overwhelmed by ongoing conflicts in Somalia, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere; meanwhile, the AU is incapable of combating problems like disease, environmental concerns, poverty and corruption. To competently address these tribulations, the AU requires additional funding and an expanded jurisdiction. The AU should continue to focus on oversight, as opposed to governing, but should be given more transnational authority. An authoritative federal body could confront Africa’s corrupt and incompetent dictators like Robert Mugabe and Omar al-Bashir, and oversee future elections. Relatively affluent African nations should contribute significant personnel and funding to the AU.
It is also critical that African administrators be persuaded to reduce trade barriers. Economic integration would encourage infrastructural development and stability. Africa’s abundant natural resources are impressive, but the distribution of resources insures inequality. Strengthening existing regional trade agreements and establishing new ones would constitute an important preliminary step toward continental integration.
Of course, complications threaten to undermine the cooperative rhetoric employed by African officials. Most African nations are unwilling to cede autonomy or unable to make significant contributions; most countries would also presumably prefer to maintain standing armies. Furthermore, Africa’s countries differ in terms of ideology, ethnicity, and language; Africa may be too big and too varied to administer centrally. Consequently, the AU must be relegated to oversight.
Officials are unlikely to establish an authoritative continental government in the foreseeable future; however, integration and strategic cooperation would undoubtedly alleviate the continent’s abundant humanitarian crises. African policymakers must cooperate competently to combat these catastrophes that cause so much suffering.
"This historic effort will require the leadership, courage, and a willingness to depart from the ways of the past, if it is to do for Africa what the European Union has done for Europe." -Kofi Annan
For decades, Africa has been plagued by awful leadership. Africans deserve better.
J.G.
