The African leaders are really left with a tough but attainable assignment, the issue of peace and serenity, as it is a decisive as well as determinant factor in all aspects. The expression, 'the one which should have come first came last,' does automatically come to everyone's mind whenever they are thinking the situation in Africa.
From the outset of producing this piece, this writer would like to cite the golden expression what Oprah Winfrey once put reads, "One person can change the world with love, compassion and courage," Which in one way or another, or even prettily related to, the issue of peace. Africa should declare its rebirth and renaissance to decide on its own future and freedom, a new African era characterized by democracy, sustainable economic development and a reawakening of the continent's rich cultural values and heritage. The destiny of Africa should never be decided by palms outside of African sons and daughters, but win-win approach and firm collaboration maters, be it in peace, economy, political, or other related aspects.
Incredibly, being the birthplace of human life, the cradle of mankind, the source of human ancestors, home to numerous natural resources, Africa has now, calculatingly or unknowingly, made the tail of the planet. Where does the problem emanate from is the very burning question, too, and needs to be addressed as promptly and precisely as possible. The very factor that highly contributes to its sluggish pace behind the world has been proved to be peace. This piece tries to jot down some points about the role of African leaders in due course of ensuring peculiarly these days when the continent has become itchy and its population is devoid of repose. A lot is expected of the Summit underway, indeed!
The question why Africa is moving really very slow and be conflict hub is a pugnacious query that has long been left unanswered. The meaning of the dynamic minds born to African womb, the invaluable and untapped resources with which the continent is endowed as well as the unexploited human labor prevail in Africa is wrongly interpreted and make it a parasite. Truly speaking, the African continent wouldn't have exposed such a dismaying scenario had the continent known what it is in real terms.
Unfortunately, the African continent has never these days passed a solid night and daylight devoid of conflict and lack of serenity at every corner though the degree varies. This situation must be well reversed and Africa has to have the position tantamount to its affluence. It is the respective leaders of every nation who are responsible for making all conditions quite normal and sound stable as no one can come and act accordingly to get the continent emancipated and come out of the grip of poverty and instability it finds itself in.
Surprising, if one would like to request why, they might have gotten the response because it is poor, lack responsible and determined leaders that are confident enough to live up to truth and social promise towards heartily serving their prestigious and well-to-do nations, and respective citizenry, of course there are exceptions. The question is for how long can Africa lead life in such a tumultuous fashion by waging war and conflict against one another?
Most definitely, Africa has been becoming the continent of paradox: rich in untapped resource and affordable human labor, and labeled as the poorest of the poor in the planet. Nothing is more annihilating and embarrassing than this one no matter what the parameter and absolute gadget is used to weigh. Poor Africa!
Where are leaders, where are the guardians of the continent to rescue it from the grip of lack of peace and serenity, poverty and underdevelopment, power monger and state of ocean corruption. Enough is enough! Wake up Mother Africa, wake up Mother Continent, stand up to tear out war, rivalry and conflict tenet, instill peace, fraternity and communalism instead!
The 37th AU Summit should not be a mere coming together and superficially raising several issues to substantiate reports and get the latter hubs of spider webs on various shelves. The Summit must provide Africa with a fresh proof that makes the continent ever serene and economically or politically dynamic. Fundamental change must come from the gathering and help the continent get out of every political, economic and social shackle.
As a decade, two decades, three decades etc... of war has made Africa handicap or lame, there must be new ways to think about the role the continent will play in the world in the year to come. Unless it helps Africa rein all sources of conflict, disagreement and societal suffering and devoid of a sigh of relief, what is the meaning of convening counting intervals and keeping time-frame and selecting places comfortable to relax?
Unless the concept of peace is altered, this is the right time for Africa and Africans to capitalize on it more than anytime else. In the era of the 21st century when United States of Africa should be definitely aspired, how on earth bridging differences and disagreements as well as getting sources of conflict dried for good has become tantamount to calcimining a remote summit of a high mountain.
Unequivocally, Africa's instability, lack of peace and prevailing conflict, be it recurrent or intermittent, is a suffering for it and wedding bedding bedecked with myriads of accompanies for other who would never like to see the rise of the continent.
Perhaps, this might not be obscured for the leaders of Africa since they can have their own reasons to cite. What matters here is African problems had to be well addressed solely by its sons and daughters. Obviously, peace is everything, a priceless human assert on the continent, on earth at a larger scale as it is the source of all success and nation building efforts.
No one can argue that the old notion of going to war, conquering an enemy, and walking away is no longer viable in a much more complex and interconnected and interdependent modern world. Yes, conflict is part of the human feature and condition, but what should come first is solving it through close talks and negotiation. This is what Africa lacks. When can the continent wake up to come out of the vicious circle of conflict? The Summit must have the answer.
Sure as shooting, Africa can't afford war after war financially, nor can every member states national identity and conscience afford it.
Africa has to make negotiation, close talks, dialog and appreciating governing idea without gun sounds. Such an audacious practice all the time attracts communication, negotiation, and mediation from government to grassroots levels to reduce and eliminate the frequency and severity of violent conflict and destructive war. Leaders have to work to help their continent preclude and/or end conflict. True, it is about equipping individual citizens, groups, associations, parties, communities on the ground, especially those in conflict parts, with the operational tools and feasible peaceful weapons they need to mediate with groups in conflict or negotiate a peace settlement. Unquestionably, it takes time, but in the end it is about saving lives that would have been claimed following wrongdoings, protecting property damage thereby making respective nations sustained.
As preventing conflict is a cost-effective national security strategy at any time in any country, Africa has to make it a culture. When countries can resolve more conflicts without resorting to violence, they can be in a position to conserve capabilities for those times when they really need it and save social, economic and even political volume. Africa! Say no to armed conflict as it costs money--big money, claims precious human life and deep sucks resources.
Dear leaders! Where do you want to take Africa in 2063? Help it quench its peace thirst, and all other things come next. Pump collective action, cooperate one another, be united and truly value peace that can prevent catastrophes and stop the suffering of citizens. The Summit must be made a critical juncture in African history as the post-colonial period is over and the African Renaissance is underway; economic growth has been steady for a decade and the number of wars and coups d'état has to be nullified.
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As far as the writer's view is concerned, it is imperative that regional organizations in areas of proximity to conflicts should be empowered and supported to take necessary actions to restore peace and security. In due course of improving the cooperation and coordination between/among regional organizations especially through the African Union, leaders can play a decisive role along this line. The Summit needs to be made a springboard to take measures based on the type, nature and feature of conflicts so as to ensure peace in the entire continent.
There is no doubt that the best way to prevent conflicts is when the African Union partners with regional organizations and even international entities in cases where the parameters of such partnerships are well-defined and well-coordinated. There are several reasons of course why the role of regional organizations in fueling peace efforts should be encouraged and supported although a range of difficulties exist.
Despite its being the birthplace of human life, the source of human ancestors, it is lagging behind, which is quite unfair. It shouldn't lack peace even for a fraction of seconds. The continent now requires new elite in politics, business and culture to takeover more responsibilities for their still young countries and old tribes, and not merely to enjoy the honey of power for the inner circle of their own family. Africa must be emancipated from within to flourish in peace. Most importantly, by assisting in the prevention and resolution of violent conflicts all citizens of the continent are also contributing to the prevention of war, conflict and poverty, too.
