Ray, on the topic of Africa, do you think that the AU will succeed like the EU. Interesting Opinion in DAWN, a leading Pakistani daily.
Africa: a new beginning
Almost four decades after its formation in 1963, leaders of Africa formally buried the Organization of African Unity on Monday to pave the way for what promises to be a new and more dynamic body - the African Union. On Tuesday, the first summit of the AU began with much fanfare in the South African city of Durban amidst high hopes and suspense.
The AU aims to be radically different from its predecessor. The OAU was created during the heyday of the African struggle against colonialism and served a useful purpose as the united voice of Africa against foreign rule. However, the organization eventually ran out of steam and seemed impotent against the many challenges the continent faced. The AU, in contrast, places at the top of its agenda a new, more democratic Africa where good governance, respect for human rights and the peaceful resolution of conflicts prevail. Eventually, the African Union, like its European counterpart, aims for a joint parliament, a court of justice, a Central Bank and a single currency.
A radical departure from the old OAU is the AU's decision to form its own peace-keeping force that would intervene in regional conflicts. Closely linked to the AU is the New Partnership for Africa's Development, the brainchild of five African leaders whose aim is to practise and promote democracy and strive for better governance in order to attract more aid. This initiative required an injection of some $64 billion to put in place.
However, the recent G-8 conference in Canada did not promise even a fraction of that amount, leading to great disappointment in Africa. While the AU's agenda and aims are positive, it clearly faces formidable challenges in the days ahead. Africa is a continent in deep crisis with numerous long-running regional conflicts, the threat of widespread starvation looming over southern parts of the continent and an AIDS pandemic all taking a terrible toll. Given these challenges, the AU leadership requires a monumental resolve and effort in the days ahead to begin the stupendous task of pulling the continent back from the abyss of hunger, war and disease.
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