International
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.