BY definition, integration implies willingness on part of independent states to function jointly with the expectation of achieving together, what individual states, acting unilaterally cannot easily accomplish. This is the political logic behind the formation of the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), both, being offshoots of the defunct Organization of African Unity (OAU). The failure of the OAU to unite African States has given critics of African Unity, reasons to express pessimistic feelings that the AU Modeled along the lines of the European Union (EU), will be unable to save Africa from the catastrophes of the new millennium. So far the picture of African integration remains disturbing and depressing.
WITH an Executive Assembly, a Parliament, a Central Bank, and an African Court of Justice, many observers are confident that the path to Africa integration has been finally discovered and that the critical task of uniting Africa, this time around, will be faster.
HOWEVER, we are deeply concerned that almost half a decade after the coming into existence of the AU, integration process and progress in Africa has remained rather slow. This development has given the protagonists of African integration, a very uncomfortable political feeling. Apart from occasional meeting of the AU’s Executive Assembly, the African parliament, established on March 2004 has nothing but consultative powers and it is unlikely that this parliamentary situation will change fundamentally in the next few years.
IN other areas of uniting the continent, such as the drive towards achieving African Monetary integration, in terms of the emergency of a single currency which hopefully may become known as the “AFRO,” the slow progress is even more apparent.
THE monetary integration difficulties are such that if concrete steps are not taken, the dreams of a single currency for the continent may remain just a dream. The problem with the financial and economic integration of the continent is that the West, East, North, South and Central-Africa respectively operate, vastly different economies. Monetary Integration in Africa will definitely take a long time.
CLEARLY, the financial and economic forces that can aid the process of uniting Africa are hard to achieve. In fact the projects that could foster African cooperation and integration will rely heavily on foreign assistance. As many observers have pointed out, the biggest obstacle to African integration is psychological in nature. The African peoples for instance are yet to learn and think as Africans. For Africa to achieve full units they must learn to speak with one voice, and must demonstrate the capacity to consistently act collectively.
OUR major reason for this appeal is that many Africans believe that the AU, cannot offer what the African people want, because the continent is not technologically advanced, and that virtually all the African states are experiencing unnecessary conflicts, and political instability. Public perception is that it will take quite a while to realize the aspirations of the AU and to deliver on its promise. Still, we hold firmly to our belief that it is time for Africa to get things right. There is need to change African perception of Africa. Africa cannot continue to be an object of pity. We want Africa to arrive at a situation where the continent can achieve advancement as evident in other continents. We agree that some of the problems of the continent are beyond its control, and that outside assistance is inevitable.
DESPITE temporary setbacks, however, we believe that the AU has made significant progress in promoting peace and security. The overall efforts and successes made so far by the AU in Africa have put to shame those who for now have assumed that nothing good will come out of the continent of Africa. Today, AU’s peace and Security Council is a noble idea in peace arrangements, particularly in Sudan’s Western Darfur region.
ALTHOUGH we are disappointed that the OAU, for nearly four decades functioned below expectation, yet there is no doubt that the OAU served as a vehicle for the realization of the AU, which has the rare chance to turn the continent around by changing the structure, and the content of the political, economic, and social relations with the rest of the world and the civil society. Africa is well endowed with human, mineral and primary energy resource. For instance, some 20 per cent of the world population lives in Africa. The continent has approximately 40 per cent of the total value of world’s mineral production. Between 12 and 245 per cent of world’s crude petroleum output is in Africa. Of course 26 important metallic and non-metallic minerals, the share of Africa varies from between 25 and 95 percent of world production. These blessings are strong tools to help Africa tackle its weakness, as well as face the challenging task of uniting the continent.