African solutions to African problems: Cabo Delgado an eye opener

There exists a deeply flawed belief that Africa is a continent blighted with the most problems in the world. And, as if that prejudice is not bad enough, there is this equally appalling philosophy that solutions to Africa’s problems can only come from anywhere else but Africa. 

Such prejudices have hindered Africa’s abilities to leverage its potential in pacifying the continent. Good enough, all is not lost. The ongoing joint military operation of the Rwandan and Mozambican security forces in Mozambique’s restive northernmost Cabo Delgado Province is ample testimony that Africans are capable of doing a better job. 

Who said that Africa needed to seek external validation to deal with its challenging situations? Or where did the strange belief that solutions to African problems could only be designed by foreigners in far-flung places? 

Well, you can blame it on colonialism but that excuse can never give justice to unexploited African abilities to resolve some of its endemic problems such as insecurity, corruption, bad governance related issues and other purely resolvable challenges. 

It is now half a century since many African countries got independence. Blaming our woes on colonialism is past its expiry date. Africans – especially our leaders – should roll up their sleeves and do the heavy-lifting themselves. Short of this, the void will happily be filled by others.

At the beginning of July, Rwanda and Mozambique launched a joint military offensive against the Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama, an Islamic terrorist group which had caused mayhem in northern Mozambique.

More than 800,000 people had been displaced and hundreds more killed by this radical group. All economic activity in the region rich in natural gas had come to a standstill.

The thought-provoking question for most people who initially knew very little to nothing about Mozambique and the notorious insurgency that paralyzed life in Cabo Delgado was why it had taken so long before such a military operation was conducted. 

The fact that pre-existing mechanisms, be it under the African Union or any other regional grouping, could not immediately be mobilized to end the suffering of Mozambican citizens is telling enough for the little attention the continent gives to matters that matter most.

The very urgent problem that Africa needs to resolve is solidarity. Developing a sense of urgency on matters security arising in any African country should be a concern of all African nations. The problems emanating from insecurity in one nation directly or indirectly affect other countries. 

Back in Cabo Delgado, after the rapid re-capture of Mocimboa da Praia, a strategic stronghold of the terrorist organization that had served as their main logistical base, they retreated to a very challenging combat ecosystem. The terrorists’ belief is that this would represent great challenges to the joint forces hence buy them some more time and space to re-organize and continue their hostile operations. 

Little did they know that for Rwandan troops and their comrades from Mozambique, no challenge was greater than reclaiming the full territory of Cabo Delgado and restoring life. No ecosystem is challenging enough for them than achieving their ultimate objective. Knowing what Rwandan troops are capable of, I predict that the objective of their mission is about to be fully achieved.

Fellow Africans, we should challenge the ill-intentioned theories that we are good for nothing. We are a people just like all others in other continents.  If anything, we understand our challenges better to come up with immediate solutions than those from the West, whose solutions are predominantly theoretical.

Our problems have and should continue to make us a better, stronger and resilient people. Positioning ourselves as vulnerable and a powerless people will only expose us for exploitation with devastating consequences.

As for our dear leaders, I pray that God grants you courage to be more independent in the critical decisions you make, and be bold enough to come together and do the needful.