The United States of Africa: An Idea Whose Time Has Come (Part I)
The African Union’s permanent membership in the G20 is merely another form of colonial exploitation.
Africa
Africa, the world’s second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia, spans approximately 30.3 million square kilometers (11.7 million square miles), including adjacent islands. This size constitutes 20% of the Earth’s total land area and 6% of its overall surface area. As of 2021, its population stands at approximately 1.4 billion people, accounting for nearly 18% of the global human population.
The demographic makeup of Africa is notably youthful compared to other continents. The median age in 2022 was 18.8 years, in stark contrast to the global median age of 30.2 years. Despite its wealth of natural resources, Africa holds the unenviable position of being the least affluent continent on a per capita basis, and the second least affluent in terms of total wealth, superseded only by Oceania. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 600 million people in Africa, or 43% of the total population in the continent, lack access to electricity.
Africa is composed of 54 recognized nations which operate with 42 distinct currencies.
The African Union Joins the G20
An AP article titled “The African Union is joining the G20, a powerful acknowledgement of a continent of 1 billion people” was published on September 9, 2023. The article states “The group of the world’s 20 leading economies is welcoming the African Union as a permanent member, a powerful acknowledgement of Africa as its more than 50 countries seek a more important role on the global stage….U.S. President Joe Biden called last year for the AU’s permanent membership in the G20, saying it’s been ‘a long time in coming’….Granting the African Union membership in the G20 is a step that recognizes the continent as a global power in itself…. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the current AU chair, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, with a hug on Saturday at the G20 summit his country is hosting, saying he was “elated.” “Congratulations to all of Africa!” said Senegal President Macky Sall, the previous AU chair who helped to push for membership….The African continent has 60% of the world’s renewable energy assets and more than 30% of the minerals key to renewable and low-carbon technologies. Congo alone has almost half of the world’s cobalt, a metal essential for lithium-ion batteries, according to a United Nations report on Africa’s economic development released last month…. Take Africa’s natural assets into account and the continent is immensely wealthy, Kenyan President William Ruto said at the first Africa Climate Summit this week….Now, as a high-profile G20 member, Africa’s demands will be harder to ignore.”
The Group of Twenty (G20)
The Group of Twenty (G20), a collection of twenty of the world’s largest economies formed in 1999, was conceived as a bloc that would bring together the most important industrialized and developing economies to discuss international economic and financial stability.
The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.
Together, the nations of the G20 account for around 80 percent of global economic output, nearly 75 percent of global exports, and about 60 percent of the world’s population.
The G20 was formed in 1999, in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, to unite finance ministers and central bankers from twenty of the world’s largest established and emerging economies. A decade later, at the height of the global economic crisis, the G20 was elevated to include heads of state and government.
The African Union (AU)
The African Union (AU) was created on September 9, 1999, to replace the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). The AU’s membership includes all 54 countries in Africa, as well as the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
In May 1963, thirty-two Heads of independent African States met in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to sign the Charter creating Africa’s first post-independence continental institution, The Organization of African Unity (OAU). The OAU was the manifestation of the pan-African vision for an Africa that was united, free and in control of its own destiny and this was solemnized in the OAU Charter in which the founding fathers recognized that freedom, equality, justice and dignity were essential objectives for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples and that there was a need to promote understanding among Africa’s peoples and foster cooperation among African states in response to the aspirations of Africans for brother-hood and solidarity, in a larger unity transcending ethnic and national Differences. The guiding philosophy was that of Pan-Africanism which centered on African socialism and promoted African unity, the communal characteristic and practices of African communities, and a drive to embrace Africa’s culture and common heritage.
The main objectives of the OAU were to rid the continent of the remaining vestiges of colonization and apartheid; to promote unity and solidarity amongst African States; to coordinate and intensify cooperation for development; to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and to promote international cooperation.
On September 9, 1999, the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) issued the Sirte Declaration calling for the establishment of an African Union, with a view, to accelerating the process of integration in the continent to enable Africa to play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic and political problems compounded as they were by certain negative aspects of globalization.
The African Union (AU) was officially launched in July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, following a decision in September 1999 by its predecessor, the OAU to create a new continental organization to build on its work. The decision to re-launch Africa’s pan-African organization was the outcome of a consensus by African leaders that in order to realize Africa’s potential, there was a need to refocus attention from the fight for decolonization and ridding the continent of apartheid, which had been the focus of the OAU, towards increased cooperation and integration of African states to drive Africa’s growth and economic development.
The AU is guided by its vision of “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”
To ensure the realization of its objectives and the attainment of the Pan African Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, Agenda 2063 was developed as a strategic framework for Africa’s long term socio-economic and integrative transformation. Agenda 2063 calls for greater collaboration and support for African led initiatives to ensure the achievement of the aspirations of African people.
Kumbaya-inspired CIA Propaganda
As I read the above-referenced AP article, two questions presented themselves:
(1) Why did the G20 wait for approximately 21 years to grant the African Union permanent membership in the G20 and finally recognize the African continent as “a global power in itself?”
The answer to this question is twofold. (a) The neocolonialists are concerned that the recent spate of coups in Africa may deprive them of being able to further exploit African labor, commodities, and natural resources; and (b) the fact that more than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS could accelerate the process of de-dollarization. It should be noted that the US dollar’s share of official FX reserves fell to a 20-year low of 58% in the final quarter of 2022, and 47% when adjusted for exchange rate changes, according to International Monetary Fund data.
(2) Why did the African Union agree to become a permanent member of the G20?
It’s time for Africa to be a legitimate world leader rather than a continent victimized by ongoing, albeit more subtle, neocolonialism. By joining the G20, the AU has ensured the continued exploitation of the 54 African nations by the European neocolonialists and the U.S.
European colonization of Africa took place over several centuries, with different European powers engaging in exploration, trade, and conquest at various times. The most intensive phase of colonization, often referred to as the “Scramble for Africa,” occurred during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Hopefully, the AU’s subservience to the European and U.S. members of the G20 will not result in the “Scramble for Africa II.”
The insidious specter of “neocolonialism” is nothing less than a sinister echo of a colonial past that refuses to release its grip. It is a term that exposes the persistent machinations and malevolent legacies of colonialism, an imperial monster that continues to haunt the collective psyche of once-colonized societies.
In the unflinching light of post-colonial scholarship, it becomes abundantly clear that the struggle for independence was but a single chapter in a long and grueling narrative. Despite the banners of sovereignty unfurled by these nations, the insidious tendrils of colonialism and its agents persist, stealthily creeping into every crevice of their societies. Indeed, the colonization of minds and institutions is as virulent today as it ever was.
Every nook and cranny of these ex-colonized societies bears witness to the relentless march of neocolonialism. Its pervasive influence knows no bounds, as it continues to manipulate economic, political, and cultural landscapes. It festers in the corridors of power, permeates the media, and molds the educational systems, all while perpetuating the exploitation and oppression that have long defined the colonial enterprise.
In the unending battle against the remnants of the colonial yoke, the subject matter of neocolonialism emerges as a rallying point for resistance and awakening. It is the stark reminder that the struggle for genuine emancipation is far from over, as the ghosts of colonialism linger in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to assert their dominance once more.
The AU Has Failed the People of Africa in At Least Three Basic Areas
Since July 2002, the AU has failed to coordinate and consolidate the 54 African nations into “The United States of Africa.” If there’s any hope for Africa to untangle itself from the shackles of economic disparity, the dizzying labyrinth of its 42 currencies cannot be ignored. Here, again, the AU has failed. Finally, 600 million people in Africa, or 43% of the total population in the continent, lack access to electricity.
Regrettably, the AU has made little progress in establishing a kumbaya society in Africa. Those who are “elated” or shouting “congratulations to all of Africa!” in response to the AU joining the G20 have fallen victim to CIA propaganda.
Further Reading: