JANUARY: AFICA LIT ITS CANDRE, WHO WILL BLOW IT?

January, being a month when most people set their targets for the year is also a month when most people start on a high gear to achieve set goals. When you dare to ask ten people in the middle of the year how far they had gone as far achieving their target, I suspect, only one would be still working towards achieving those goals.

In 2012, conflict between Muslims and Christians escalated beyond what everyone expected in CAR, in Egypt, volatile demonstrations against over throw of first elected president Morsi in July by military is what we imported from Egypt. Un expected ‘coup’ in South Sudan against protagonist Kiir summed up the year.

Africa is walking on water as far as solving these conflicts is concerned in one month

In south Sudan, we have already climbed one hill. Cessation agreement between rebels and government has already been signed. This agreement has already reaped big- eight of political detainees have been realised. As we wait for second round of talks, hopes will be high; possibly we can eradicate this six weeks old conflict.

For CAR, former president Michel Djotodia resigned his post-president. He failed to quell violence in Bangui since he took over in March (2012) after a coup that over threw Bozize. Samba-Panza Catherine took over. Since she was duly elected, many analysts believe she will steer process pacifying CAR.

Referendum approved new constitution which will pave a way for presidential and parliamentary elections. However presidential election have been moved forward, Egyptians will vote for president and then parliamentarian.     

Cateris-paribus, I can confidently declare end of political conflicts in Africa in 2014, however I am not moving away from pessimism of politics being a dirty game. Events can turn the other way round- we can even meet more conflicts than we expect.

Think about a conflict free Africa. It would spur investment in leading to creation of employment opportunities and further. How much does Africa spend on these conflicts?, I don’t know but of course billions of money. These billions of money would be used to provide deliverable services such as better quality education, health, infrastructure, etc.

Then, refugees’ dilemma would be reminiscently told to next generation. African, wherever they are would concentrate on long term projects due to certainty about the future. Somalis would for example be urbanising Mogadishu once again other than wandering in aliening in foreign states.

Africa’s mayhem remains rooted in deep rooted in civil and political conflict. DRC since independence has been marred conflict. No wonder with her natural resources, it remain one of the poorest countries in the world.

A peaceful Africa would stand against manage its own affairs politically, economically and socially. We would bargain a better terms of trade (TOT), politically, we would be free from European observers during elections as if Africa is a two year child. No, Africa is 50yrs old.