Peace and security essential to restore credibility of Africa's leaders

[gottaB]

By Steven Nakana

In the last four decades, African countries have waged at least 30 wars that have ranged from inter- and intra-state conflicts to ethnic rivalry, including economic and religious conflicts that have robbed the continent of $250 billion, as well as millions of lives.

Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda are a sad legacy of this turbulent past, when non-interference in the internal affairs of states characterised both the United Nations and the African Union's predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity.

The wars that have been fought on the continent have not only tested the political will of the UN Security Council, whose veto-wielding members - China, Britain, America, France and Russia - have been more divided and casualty-shy when it comes to African conflicts, but also undermined the political credibility of African leadership.

That, in the 21st century, the continent continues to grapple with these deep-rooted and multifaceted inter- and intra-state conflicts is a testimony to poor leadership. The ongoing conflicts in the Darfur region of Western Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Côte d'Ivoire are good examples of the failure of political leadership in these countries.

Peace and security essential to restore credibility of Africa’s leaders....

[John Smith]

1. ........

What about Zimbabwe?

A breadbasket turned into a wasteland thanks to a lunatic doesn't seem to fit in with the 'blame the colonial period' sentiment.

[gottaB]

2. pointing out the legacy of the past hardly exonerates current tyrants

Nakana clearly identifies problems with current African leadership which he thinks the AU should address.

Zimbabwe is on the AU's agenda. We could argue about whether they gave Mugabe a pass at Addis, and what action they should be taking, though I think we'd be of similar mind. Still, there are arguably greater threats to peace and security on the continent at this moment. It's appropriate to talk about those.