African unity a non-runner

[dsmythy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6268468.stm

At the ninth African Union summit in Accra, Ghana no consensus was reached on a pan-African government.

Libya were the hottest on the idea with Gaddafi pushing for an immediate African government and army to be set up. Senegal also liked the idea.

Most of the delegates however we're a bit more sensible looking for a gradual formation of a possible single African government by setting up blocs of nations who are compatable with each other and then looking at the situation from there.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni said that although he was in favour of a economic integration he felt Africa was too diverse for a single government.

"Politically we should only integrate with people who are either similar or compatible with us," he said, according to Uganda's state-owned media.


So whos right Libya or Uganda? Is pan-Africa forever a pipe dream or something that can be worked at in the future?

[johnfás]

A complete Pan-African community is unlikely in my opinion. However, there is a continous strengthening of the East African Community. When I was there last year it consisted of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and has since taken in Burundi and Rwanda (annoying because my Rwandan visa would have cost less now!!!). East African Community is even discussing a single currency.

The point you make about blocs which could cooperate is a much better idea and although it may not be legislated for it may evolve into existence by itself - as exampled in my initial paragraph.

[Insider2007]

A non-starter.

[White Rose]

Better to start small like the EU did with its original 6 members and then grow
Neighbouring countries who see the benefits of joining will then start doing what needs to be done to get in such as strengthening democracy, sensible fiscal policies and so on

Who should the original members be? Prob South Africa as it is the strongest and most developed. the problem is that the neighbouring countries are not very developed (am I right on this?)

[Libero]

Better to start small like the EU did with its original 6 members and then grow
Neighbouring countries who see the benefits of joining will then start doing what needs to be done to get in such as strengthening democracy, sensible fiscal policies and so on

Who should the original members be? Prob South Africa as it is the strongest and most developed. the problem is that the neighbouring countries are not very developed (am I right on this?)

Yup, you can't get much more down-and-out than Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

[Rocky]

Better to start small like the EU did with its original 6 members and then grow
Neighbouring countries who see the benefits of joining will then start doing what needs to be done to get in such as strengthening democracy, sensible fiscal policies and so on

Who should the original members be? Prob South Africa as it is the strongest and most developed. the problem is that the neighbouring countries are not very developed (am I right on this?)

As someone has already said there is already a decent East African Community in existence and as African countries go Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are some of the wealthiest and most stable and they are all close together and IBurundi and Rwanda have recently joined, so if that can continue to grow, then that may be a good path to go down, basically like the EU start off small and slowly make it bigger.

I think Africa would be better slowly becoming united economically rather then politically. If nothing else Africa is too diverse to be ruled by one government.

[farnaby]

Some form of union makes sense in the long run. As I understand it African states are primarily colonial constructs, encompassing multiple ethnicities, with only a short history as independent entities that haven't worked particularly well. Reducing conflict and increasing international bargaining power would be a good place to start (as the EU have done).

That said having a dictator of a regionally powerful country suggest an immediate move to central government rule is something any democrat should intuitively reject.

[Nordy_Trinnerhead]

If Africans cannot live together side by side without having intermittent civil wars and civil conflicts, how the hell are they supposed to unify together?

The best option would be an EEC style organisation, and then look at the idea again maybe in a hundred years or so.

[Thac0man]

I am deeply suspicious of this proposal. It looks like a drive to cement power for those that already have it. How can one government contain Gadaffi, Mugabe etc on one side and elected government representitives on the other? I don't think the former would ever submit to election, but some of the latter might be tempted to take the opportunity never face one.

[Thac0man]

That said having a dictator of a regionally powerful country suggest an immediate move to central government rule is something any democrat should intuitively reject.

Very good/valid point, but one taken from our perspective. Unfortunitly in Africa democrats include people like Robert Mugabe.