Africa
By Anthony Isibor
MOHAMED Ibn Chambas, African Union high representative for ‘Silencing the Guns’, has called on African leaders to return back to Nnamdi Azikiwe’s model for the continent in order to achieve a better, more prosperous united Africa and stem the rising social movements of disenchanted African youths.
Delivering the 13th Zik Lecture Series of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with the theme: “Zik legacies and rising social movements in Africa: Rethinking regional integration in Africa” on Saturday, November 16, 2024, Ibn Chambers, who is also the Chairman of the AU high-level Panel on Sudan, noted that Zik’s united Africa, holds not just the solutions to individual crises, but a comprehensive approach to building a stable, prosperous continent.
“His vision is a blueprint for a self-reliant Africa, where economic, security and political integration lay the foundation for true independence,” he said.
He said that the current focus on the linguistic divide, Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone, etc, is sadly a throwback to the colonial divisions of old.
Instead, he called for a searchlight on which candidate can take the continent on a pathway towards realising the dreams of the founding fathers of Pan-Africanism such as Zik, embodied today in the noble objective of the AfCFTA and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
According to him, an important first step in the creation of the African common currency will be the realisation of the West African common currency, the ECO, which the ECOWAS has been spearheading for some time now. “Time has come for ECOWAS member states to demonstrate commitment to this strategic tool in West African integration by meeting the conditions for the introduction of the common currency without continuously postponing it. The African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, would be boosted by a common currency.”
“The establishment of a single African currency, a free trade zone, unified industrialization programmes, a common defence force and cooperative governance are essential steps in realizing Zik’s dream. His vision was not merely about political freedom, but about creating a continent that could stand as an equal partner on the global stage. Zik would remind us that African unity is more than an ideal; it is an achievable reality that could solve the issues holding the continent back today. Indeed, building the foundations for a peaceful, stable, democratic and prosperous Africa is in consonance with the thinking of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and it’s the sure way to Silencing the Guns in Africa.
“In honouring Zik’s ideals, we must embrace a pathway towards a secure, economically independent and politically stable Africa. His legacy calls upon African leaders and citizens alike to adopt a mindset of unity, to move beyond the boundaries drawn by history, and to build a future where Africa’s people are empowered, prosperous, and united,” he said.
Some of Zik’s dreams for Africa that leaders must return to as listed by Chambers include:
1. Political Unity and Cooperative Governance
Zik was acutely aware of the political fragmentation that colonialism had left behind, warning that Africa’s progress would be stunted without cooperative governance. He believed that Africa should establish a political framework where states could work together on shared interests while respecting individual sovereignty.
2. Collective Security and a Common Défense Force
Zik foresaw the need for a strong collective security system in Africa. In “The Future of Pan-Africanism”, he warned against the dangers of external interference and internal conflicts, advocating for an African defence strategy. In today’s context, where violent conflict, insurgency, and instability persist across the continent, Zik’s vision of a common African defence force is prescient.
3. Catalysing Development with a Unified Industrial Programme
Zik emphasized the importance of Africa creating its industries rather than relying on foreign imports. In his vision of Pan-Africanism, he outlined a unified approach to industrialization where African states would work together, pooling resources, expertise, and labour. He saw that Africa’s development could only be sustainable if it was grounded in self-sufficiency and collective investment.
4. Economic Independence through a Single Currency.
A.I
Nov. 17, 2024
Tags: African Union Mohamed Ibn Chambas
