Details obscure larger vision

Africa is at a crossroads in its history. This continent has demonstrated in the last few years that it can and will overcome its many problems particularly that of under development. Already, Africa has been registering the fastest rate of growth among the continents, with countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan and Angola growing their economies in double digits. All indicators augur an era of sustained development unprecedented in modern African history. That is one fork in the complex road ahead. Another points to real risks of renewed instability and a widening of the already skewed income gap. Which of the two forks in the road will Africa forge ahead on? The first path which it is tenuously riding or the second, more familiar and treacherous highway of doom?
So it is of great significance that Africans await with anticipation the opening of the 10th Africa Union Summit of Heads of State, scheduled to convene here from January 31st to February 2nd. The African Union, it must be noted, is the heir of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) which transformed into the A.U. after completing its primary objectives of the eradication of colonialism and white minority rule from Africa. This proud achievement of individual nation-state sovereignty is of course, a far cry from the Pan-African vision of great Africans such as Haile Sellasie I of Ethiopia, Kwame Nikrumah of Ghana and Egypt’s Gamel Abdel Nasser, to name just a few. However, Africa is by and large free and it is on this platform that the A.U. should build the foundations of prosperity.
At this point, we urge the current crop of African leaders to avoid being caught up in the specifics of the African situation lest they lose sight of the bigger picture. The O.A.U. did not rid the continent of colonialism piecemeal but rather enclosed the issue of independence in the context of genuine and practical unity in one super-state. Sometimes, it requires one to prepare for a test with the objective of scoring 110 out of 100. Impossible maybe, but that student can be assured of scoring in the high eighties at least.
Of course, there are specific cases that require urgent intervention by the A.U. Darfur languishes still, Ethiopia is against its will and better judgment, carrying the international community’s burden in Somalia and dear neighbor Kenya is unraveling with frightening rapidity. Although each individual situation has unique peculiarities and complexities, these and other continental crisis, when examined holistically, are of the same context, and the result of Africa’s leaders too often losing sight of the bigger picture. In a sense Darfur, Somalia and other flash points are merely symptoms of the inability of Africa to speak together with one voice. Let’s think Africa – the whole of Africa, instead of meeting yearly to react to the latest crisis.
At this juncture, it is with great appreciation and gratitude, that we bid goodbye to out going chairperson of the A.U. Commission, Professor Alpha Omar Konare, who is about to conclude his eminently productive term of office. We applaud his dedicated engagement on all issues concerning this great continent as well as his ready accessibility to the media. We wish him well in future pursuits and say to the six shortlisted candidates; may the best man or woman win. To the 10th summit of A.U. Heads of State, may your distinguished attention rest on larger vision and not resemble the role of part-time firefighters.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is assembling its august members in Davos, Switzerland. This year’s conclave is sure to make the frigid winter resort town even chillier as it is held against the backdrop of the scariest weeks in global finance. The high and mighty; nations and corporate, are all ajitter as stock markets see-saw with violent fiscal tremors. Therefore, it is prudent on the part of Africa’s leaders to examine how the shaky global financial situation will affect the continent … as it must do inevitably.
The developed nations have pledged billions to Africa in development aid cooperation, grants, soft loan schemes, loan cancellations and other instruments. In light of the current, not yet full blown ‘credit crunch’, there is a danger that donor nations and institutions will re-examine their commitments or be too broke to honor pledges even if they wanted to. For Africa, the dangerous intimacy and linkage of the world’s monetary system which has displayed an inbuilt dominoes effect, should ring warning bells. It is hoped that the global financial crisis and possible impact on Africa will be near the top of the agenda of the 10th A.U. Summit of Heads of State.