Tuesday, March 1, 2011

IS THE AFRICAN UNION OF ANY VALUE IN AFRICA TODAY

By: Qeko

The one most shocking thing in African politics and conflicts today is the role of the African Union in bringing about peace. Many people keep on wondering as to whether it is necessary to have an institution in Africa that add no value in the lives of African people. People keep on asking as to why Africa has many political conflicts and the African Union seem not to do anything to come up with rightful solution to them. There are conflicts in Somalia where there is a failed state where few nations agreed to sent their troops as part of African peace Keeping force. There is also the conflicts in Ivory Coast where apparantly there seem to be no amicable solution to the conflict. Then now we have the uprising and revolution that is blowing across North African states especially Libya where Qaddafi's pro-government troops allegedly continues to bomb areas controlled by the anti government forces in the east and western part of the country.
In showing their support for the steps taken by the UN and the US and other EU states against Libya, it was expected of the AU to expel Libya from the organisation. The lattest is that the UN has voted to suspend Libya from the United Nation Human Rights Council which is a good move by the world body. Now while other bodies and institutions are concern and taking steps to isolate the Libyan leader, the African Union which was suppose to be examplary is not like doing anything not even to expel Libya from the organisation which is making so many people worried and surprised. However that Libya is not expelled from the AU is seen as a dangerous move because in the near future it will be difficult for the AU to deal with similar situations and cases. In as much as Qaddaffi is the brain behind the formation of the AU, he still has to be shown a RED CARD for killing his own people and turning the once peaciful country into a battle ground.

Having said this, we therefore want to call upon the AU that its about time that they realise that this is the 21st Century where the world is changing and they need to be in line with what is happening around them. They should avoid being a toothless institution which no meaning in the lives of African People. Why should the whole AU not take action while people are dying at the hand of the Brother leader? Should we wait for the US to lead the way? Why do we always wait for nations outside Africa to lead the way while we as Africans can handle and deal with such situations?




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