African politicians agree to integrate continent gradually

Joyce Mulama

ACCRA, Ghana — A gradual approach to pan-African government emerged as a preferred strategy among participants in this year’s African Union summit, which ended July 3 in the Ghanaian capital of Accra.

The introduction of a continent-wide administration was the main item on the agenda of the gathering, and a stormy debate on this issue continued into the night.

Those favoring rapid political and economic integration were led by Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi, who said the proposal for continental government should be put to a vote.

“We ask heads of state to carry out a referendum so that they will see that all people want a United States of Africa,” he said in an address to the approximately 30 leaders attending the summit. The African Union has 53 member states.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf also came out in support of the immediate establishment of a pan-African government, as did leaders from Chad, Ethiopia and Senegal.

“Political unity is important for Africa. If we remain fragmented into our little states, we will remain politically weak,” said Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.

But the majority of countries — including South Africa and Nigeria, both political heavyweights — remained in the moderate camp during the three days of talks.

While Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki agreed that a united Africa would have stronger bargaining power in international negotiations, he underscored the need to first strengthen regional groupings, such as the East African Community (EAC). These, he said, would form the building blocks of continental government.

The EAC is in the process of establishing a common market, and there are also plans for political federation by 2013. The East African Community is made up of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was even more circumspect.

“Insisting on political integration at the continental level will bring together incompatible linkages that may create tension rather than cohesion,” he said. “This will especially be so if you bring together groups which want to impose their identity on others. I cannot give up my identity for anything.”

The South African country of Lesotho expressed similar concerns.

“Full political integration presupposes total surrender of sovereignty,” said Pakalitha Mosisili, Lesotho’s prime minister. “To some of us, this may indeed be a tall order.”

The African Union is expected to appoint a team to give further study to the steps necessary for achieving integration and for determining a deadline for this process. A 2006 African Union report on pan-African government, “An African Union Government: Toward the United States of Africa,” had recommended phased integration with the aim of achieving a continental administration by 2015.

Individual states are also expected to conduct public hearings on the matter to ensure that their citizens participate in the debate about uniting Africa.

Civil society is already pressing ahead to give nationals a voice in discussions about pan-African government. For instance, a meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya, last month gathered the views of citizens with the aim of presenting the voice of the people at the summit in Ghana.

In addition, about 150 nongovernmental groups representing 30 African states were present in Accra to lobby the African Union on African integration. They called for restrictions on the movement of Africans across the continent to be removed, noting in a communiqué that “continental citizenship” was essential to “continental government.”

Addressing the summit, José Manuel Barroso — president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union — announced that a meeting of the EU and African Union will be held every two years to enable Europe to share its experience of integration.

The concept of an integrated African government dates back almost half a century to the creation of the African Union’s predecessor, the Organization of African Unity. That grouping was formed in 1963 and succeeded by the African Union in 2002.

(IPS/GIN)