TAJUDEEN's THURSDAY POSTCARD 10-07-2003
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I was determined to avoid any discussion on this page of anything
about President George Walker Bush's maiden safari to Africa. This is
because I honestly do not see any positive benefits to Africa or Africans in it.
Even the more hysterical trip by that master of political emotionalism,
Mr Feel good himself, Bill Clinton, in 1998, neither made Americans
Wiser about Africa nor Africans less suspicious of Americans.
I have been battling very hard not to abandone the African culture
of being ever so nice to visitors no matter how nasty they may be! But Bush
is hard work. He never misses an opportunity to disappoint. Just before he
left home he announced 'punishment' for 35 countries including African
ones (significantly South Africa that is on his itinerary) for refusing
to bow to his demand for impunity (sorry, immunity) for Americans (soldiers
and civilians alike) for any alleged crimes under the international
criminal court. With a visitor like that even people brought up on the motto of
'turning the other cheek' may find themselves tempted by the other
motto, 'even stephen'.
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I had a temporary copmpromise in joining Madiba in saying 'this man
is not welcome by me' , even if our leaders are rolling out the red carpets
for him and those he was not directly blessing with his visit are
trooping on Executive safaris to meet him for photo opportunities in their best robes!
It is so sad how our leaders caryy on around western leaders like kids seeking autographs of film stars!
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However friends in the Civil Society groups prevailed upon me that
we must seize the opportunity for some engagement. The East and Central
African Development NGO, Mwengo, consulted widely and came up with an open
letter to President Bush. Below are highlights from the letter. The full text is available at: www.Mwengo.org
You are also invited to append your name to it and support the
campaign to make the issues raised the basis of a relationship of
honesty, respect, full disclosure and devoid of patronising compassion.
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Dear President Bush:
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As your plane touches down in Dakar, Senegal, we welcome the
opportunity of your visit to examine the US Africa relationship and to establish ties
that are based on honesty, respect and a clear commitment to removing the structural
obstacles that impede Africa's development. We would like to raise the following issues
for your consideration. They are not new ones, but there is an opportunity, with your
visit, to act decisively and change the image and relationship of your Administration
with Africa.
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The proposed visit to five African countries has been scheduled to
clash with the Second Heads of Summit meeting in Maputo, Mozambique. It is
unclear how the Administration could be so out of step with African
continental institutions by not seeking to attend this important meeting.
As arranged, the trip will rather serve as a distraction to the African
Union meeting.
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We notice that your planning team has omitted those countries like
Tanzania and Kenya that have directly suffered from terrorist attacks against US interests and
citizens. This is odd given the tremendous cost that these countries have borne and continue
to bear as a result of their relationship with the US. Furthermore, the highly selective
programme excludes civil society and the business communities who could have offered
constructive and prepositional conversation around US foreign policy, aid and trade.
As constructed, the agenda appears to offer little else than a series Of photo opportunities
starting with Goree Island and ending in a Ugandan AIDS clinic with shots of our Presidents in between.
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This trip may boost the Republican campaign image among the
African-American community before elections. However, it does very
little to boost confidence on the continent that this is a working visit
that will afford time and space for Africans to share their aspirations and
engage the Administration on the need for the US to change its policies and
practices toward Africa.
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There is still time though should you choose to act on the
substantive issues we raise below.
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Delivery not spin on HIV/AIDS is needed
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While welcoming the public pledge of US$15 billion to a unilateral
US Global AIDS programmes, we note your Administration's request for
2004 is a miserly $450 million. Mr. Bush, where is the $15 Billion that you
have promised to fight AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean? Show us the
money!
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The demand for the right to import and manufacture generic drugs is
a moral imperative. This trip would be an opportunity to express your
support for Africans to access cheap generic drugs and to promote women's
rights to control their own fertility.
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Decrease uni-lateral militarisation, facilitate regional
peace-keeping
---------------------------------------------------
It can do this through cooperation and collaboration with existing
efforts such as the ECOWAS-sponsored peace conference in Liberia, the South
African-led peace efforts in Burundi and the United Nations and French-led
operations in the DRC.
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At the same time, civil society organizations in Africa would like
to register their unequivocal opposition to the further militarisation
of the continent by the proposed setting up of new military bases in Africa
as well as the expansion of others, i.e. Djibouti. We call on the US to roll back the current plans to create "forward operating bases" on African soil and desist from promoting bi-lateral agreements that exempt both US and African citizens from prosecution under the International Criminal Court.
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Why is Iraq's debt different from Africa's?:
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Mr. Bush, will you announce US support for the unconditional
cancellation of Africa's debt while in Africa? If Iraqi's debt can be
cancelled, then surely there is nothing to stop you from doing the same for Africa.
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Dumping is not Fair Trade
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Africa's poverty is the direct consequence of the inability to
export agricultural commodities at fair prices and to access US
technologies.
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We call on you to announce a moratorium on subsidies to US farmers,
desist from championing risky GM products and to take measures that will
enhance market access for Africa's agricultural products.
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Democracy is a principle, not a matter of expediency:
----------------------------------------------------
African people across the continent are establishing and holding accountable democratic
governments. The practice of externally induced "regime change" as we
have seen in the recent past is not welcome. Africans reserve the right
to elect and/or recall their leaders through democratic processes.
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We would have liked an opportunity to express these thoughts more
directly and hear your responses. However we note with concern that
the space for civil society in the US to comment on and/or critique your
administration policies has shrunk considerably. We are not surprised that
civil society in Africa as well did not feature in your itinerary.
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We deeply share the pain and suffering of Americans resulting from
September 11 events and the sense of urgency to bring this
insecurity to an end. However, we think that US-Africa relations cannot
be driven by the US War Against Terrorism or US interests in Africa as
an emerging market or as supplier of 15% of US oil.
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We make these appeals because we believe there are obligations that
come with being the world's only super power. Furthermore, the people of
the US and Africa have a history that is intertwined. Crimes against
African humanity were conducted during slavery and during the cold war. In
that sense the US has an ethical burden to act in ways that exude
justice, human rights and a genuine respect for democracy. We ask not
for charity, we seek justice. We look to your trip to toact decisively
and change the image and relationship of your Administration with Africa.
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> >"Forward Ever Backward never" Kwame Nkrumah
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