“We cannot continue to be artificial members of the UN, if the UN is to survive, we must be equal members – a member that is understood, respected and honoured – otherwise denial of rights will cause us to boycott it. We do not want to give empty and hollow speeches each year in New York as it is good for nothing.”
What a twist of fate?!
Board chairman of the Tana High Level Forum on Security in Africa,
Olusegun Obasanjo revealed that Kofi Annan will be keynote speaker at
the forum to be held at April 16-17, 2016 at Bahir Dar, under the theme
“Africa in the global security agenda”.
Mugabe’s depiction of the deadlock pertaining to
UNSC restructuring is blurred since it falls short of shedding the full
picture. It seems as if Africa had already designated its two permanent
seat holders right away when the reform materializes though the story
could be declared doornail dead.
It is indisputable that Annan; former
Secretary-General of the United Nations, possesses a state-of-the-art
understanding of the UN system. Though, he was backbitten by African
intelligentsias as comprador intellectual of the West; yet some find it
to be derogatory. At present, as opposed to his previous stance whom he
was believed to have been moderate on continental matters especially
those having political nature; both as a surprise to the continent and
as a sign of disapproval for his critiques, he is to appear in Bahir Dar
and make extrovert assertions regarding Africa. It does not matter
whether it is adverse or favorable but surely, he is going to be there.
Comprehending the excerpts hereunder from his recent statement might
help in grasping why his presence matters the most.
"Africa is in midst of a rapid social, political, and economic transformation, these transformations and the changing fortunes of its citizens come with added responsibilities. As Africa’s economic importance in the world increases, it must assume its growing importance maturely and conscientiously, including on security related concerns,” Annan said.
From the above extract as well as the very purpose
of the think tank hosting the forum, the gist for his keynote address
is going to be security; one of the keen subjects for Africa warranted
by the growing threat posed by entwined terrorist networks, the ever
increasing globalization narrative and Agenda 2063; The Africa we want
integration program. His discourse will certainly touch upon the way
forward in minimizing if not avoid rampant problems of peace and
security faced by the continent for the fact that he has been in the
high stratum of policymaking in the subject matter. Under this umbrella,
the reform schema for UNSC is what would be the indispensable subject,
which would leave Bahir Dar with a story to tell as it is going to have a
first-hand encounter.
Each year while the United Nations convoke in New
York, efforts to reform the 15-member UNSC have become a yearly ritual
even if it is rendered to be futile. What Africa's and the rest of the
world's – with the exception of the big five – desire is a leap beyond
rhetoric and do a favor not only for Africa, but also for the wellbeing
of the globe as the UNSC; principally, the “exclusive club” remains to
be an enduring arch villain in a global scale. How could Annan help
Africa in the reform? By investing his decades-long knowhow of the UN
system so that he can evaluate the archaic Ezulwini Consensus as it
appears to be a ‘home grown’ hindrance for the quest of reforming the
UNSC. By then, he would be a true son not only for Africa but also for
those whose voice has been set aside.
Hereunder, it is imperative to analyze what the
Ezulwini Consensus is all in all and the rudiments which brought about
continental divergence even if not foreseen by the mainland strategists.
On March 8, 2005 the African Union Executive
Council in its 7th Extraordinary Session adopted ‘Common position on the
proposed reform of the United Nations’ which is commonly known as ‘the
Ezulwini Consensus’; named after a city in Swaziland that hosted the
Summit. The Consensus promoted Africa to be fully represented in all UN
organs, specifically the UNSC. The full representation for Africans
meant that the continent should be granted not less than two permanent
memberships of the UNSC with all privileges including veto and an
additional five non-permanent seats. Regardless of its suggestion that
the AU shall be responsible for the selection of African representative
to the UNSC, the Ezulwini consensus preferred silence as to which
African state should occupy the seat. To this effect the essence of
hegemonic contests for reformed UNSC seats between dominant African
states and regional blocks brought about mistrust full of political
agony.
It is crystal clear that an amendment to the UN
Charter requires a two-thirds majority out of a total UN membership of
193. This would eventually comprise ratification from national
legislatures in each of the five permanent members namely Russia, the
United States of America (USA), China, the United Kingdom (UK) and
France. For the moment, let us forget the aforesaid amendment matrix in
the reform process and examine the constructive role which is expected
of Africa.
While Annan assumed power as a Secretary General,
he promised to revitalize the UNSC to 24 members. For him introducing
such restructuring is perceptive of the pre-existing ill-intentioned
arrangements even if not liked by other folks on the front. As a rule of
thumb, Africa shall wisely scrutinize him on how he was going to do
that scheming if he still has the formula for such readjustments. Then
it won’t be challenging for him to carve up continental prescription to
solve the unease brought up by Ezulwini Consensus.
One shall not go too far to witness the stalemate
it had suffered at the latest battle for the African Union Commission
Chairpersonship between South Africa and Gabon (a francophone country).
Previous suggestions by Senegal that UNSC reform should provide two
seats for Africa – one for Francophone and the other for English
speaking country – is also a ticking bomb. This is based on the premise
that France is keen on increasing its power in the UNSC through its
former colonies as it wields a big stick on the political affairs of
Françafrique. The major reason for France’s control on its former
colonies is that Francophone Africa has a ghoulish reliance on France’s
aid and other forms of political and financial assistance. Hence it is
not surprising that France’s advocacy for Africa’s permanent inclusion
in the UNSC is based on the notion that one of the permanent seats
should be occupied by a Francophone state in the process advancing
France’s power and interest in the UN body while compromising critical
African peace and security issues.
While workings of the UNSC should have been on the
basis of individual merits, each of the Regional Economic Communities
(REC’s) interest in Africa is to ensure that they are represented in the
UNSC. It has been witnessed that regional affiliation and linguistic
patronage are at high echelon compared to the merit of individual states
and one can guess what it may bring in the greater picture of
continental integration. Southern African Development Community (SADC)
nations without no doubt are expected to cast their vote supporting the
Rainbow nation as it is the maker and shaker of the region.
The other big shot Nigeria is also in the bid to
secure one from the aspired two permanent seats. They are not alone in
this business as the regional giant Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)
is to give them the support; (Nigeria’s bid for the seat is already on
its way as the West African countries in the African Union selected
Nigeria to permanently represent them in the African Union Peace and
Security Council (AUPSC). Thus, outmanoeuvring one another is already on
the playing field which may bring retrogressive impact rather than
progressive role concerning the UNSC reform.
Last but not least, the North African constituency
comprising Arab countries is also seeking candidature. Even in that
region, there would be a fierce competition between Egypt and Algeria as
the latter is growing its importance in the continent as well as the
global scale.
It is precisely clear that the common African
position is out to face stern resistance from at least the
aforementioned states even if the UN decides in favor of the long
awaited reform. The maze appears here; on the 70th anniversary of the
United Nations Summit held in New York, President Mugabe deplored that
Africa is not there for handouts referring to the role it is deprived in
the UNSC. Yet equally important, Mugabe must not fail to recall that
Africa should not be there too to create political impasse in the reform
process as Ezulwini is producing some havoc at a greater role to the
globe. Otherwise Africa’s rhetoric behind the UNSC reform process will
amount to sheer bravado.
Share this
EmoticonEmoticon