THE AU SEAT IN WORLD AFFAIRS! Sad to note that a fascist American terrorist attacked and killed six Africans last week while they were in worship. The origin of the deceased people is suspiciously not being mentioned. They were Africans. The radicalization that is currently taking place in western countries both at the political level and within the general public should be a cause for Africa's concern. These are the very behaviours, and attitudes that led to systematic empire-wide abuse by colonial governments. It is getting clearer by the day that Africa is probably everyone's last priority since the continent isn't even being discussed by our once close global partners. Something akin to a general freeze in global relations s occurring at the moment, where everyone is watching the once unimaginable spectacle currently unfolding at the Trump White House. Yet just a year ago we were still being patted on the back and told "Africa is the next economic frontier", "the future of global growth". In Europe and the US, the socio-political mood is clearly veering towards hate and exclusion. But the politicians are only following what they see from their societies, their voters, who have fully embraced and normalized these behaviours under the excuse of economic difficulties. Images of an African drowning in the Venice Grand Canal as Europeans filmed, laughed, and made quite heartless comments as they left him to die, should be a wake up call of what level of malignment Africa can expect. I repeat, European politicians are fully endorsing the behaviours of their societies rather than leading their people towards always better social values. This situation presents each African country with an opportunity to review and build intra-African relations as our own imperative for our own survival, development, and protection while we try to assess what will be our role within the international community (if any). It would also be prudent to prepare to say no to certain policies (and possible political utterances) that might interfere with our integrity. This so as to ensure that we are not bullied. Why can't Africa shed its timidity on global affairs and have a more meaningful say on all international matters wether they affect us directly or not? In comparison, Europeans havecreached deep in our remotest villages telling us what we should or should not be doing yet it doesn't help them directly except in having a larger say (and influence) in our countries and our governance affairs. It is only good manners if we are able to say something when we see anything wrong happening in our friends/development partners homes, just like they do about our own homestead. Africa, particularly The African Union institution, has to change the way it sees itself. It should fully take its seat in world affairs. Especially that it is now getting increasingly probable that we will see four years of global foreign policy lawlessness from certain quarters. I expect certain powers to wantonly overstep boundaries, followed by denial of causing any chaos. And as I recently predicted that the new world policy was going to be comparable to an "Every country for itself" policy, Africa could instead now unite even stronger as a block to protect itself and thrive despite such a disjointed and divided global environment. Thank God it is also very timely that the Kingdom of Morrocco has finally opted to re-unite with fellow African countries after decades of going nowhere alone. Such a development adds new weight, impetus, and meaning to the African Union on the global arena. At the same AU summit, a Ugandan judge has also reportedly been presented for approval by the African Union for a judge position at the International Criminal Court. This is a step in the right direction. But what is most likely happening at the moment is probable shock and disbelief by African Union member countries upon seeing Uganda flip-flopping between previously urging everyone to quit the international court, and now nominating a Ugandan judge to sit in The Hague. This is a situation that could be interpreted by AU Heads of State as possible unseriousness on our part.
By Lumumba Hussein Amin 01/02/2017
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