THAT the African Union (AU) will mark its 51st anniversary on Sunday on the back of the bloc’s shocking silence on the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram issue, speaks volumes on how inept Africa has become when it comes to dealing with issues affecting the continent.
Since the abduction of more than 250 school girs by Boko Haram last month, there has not been action by African leaders who either seem content with watching from the sidelines as the threat of terrorism spreads across the continent or rush to our former colonisers in Europe for help.
Where is the AU in these trying times for Nigeria?
Where is the African voice?
Why are we putting ourselves at the mercy of our erstwhile colonisers?
Do we have to find answers to our problems from the West?
Our recent history is replete with such stunning acceptance of ‘help’ when it comes to dealing with our problems.
The Libya, Mali and now Nigerian situations are recent examples of how our ineptitudiness has created more problems for our continent.
While it is becoming a somewhat disturbing trend that we turn a blind eye on threats to our peace and development, it is the latest episode in Nigeria that highlights our weaknesses as a continent.
Africa has remained largely mum as a fellow nation finds itself entangled with a threat that if not contained could easily befall another nation until the whole continent is struck with this challenge.
Why did it have to take France, a country whose notorious and blatant disregard for peace and security is legendary to host a mini summit in Paris on Boko Haram?
Have we forgotten that it was the same France that caused havoc in Mali?
Have we forgotten that it was France, that former coloniser of many West African nations that threw the first bombs in Libya?
Surely President Robert Mugabe and many in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) would not want to leave such tainted legacy.
That is why in 1998, SADC mandated Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia to deploy in the Democratic Republic of Congo following disturbances in that country.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could have done the same in Mali, but unfortunately France decides what happens in West Africa.
This is why it accosted leaders of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin to come to Paris for a ‘regional plan of action to combat Boko Haram’.
The United States, Britain and the European Union (EU) sent representatives to the summit.
“Nigeria and four neighbouring countries will share intelligence and border surveillance in the hunt for more than 200 Nigerian girls still held by Boko Haram, and Western nations will provide technical expertise and training to the new regional African effort against the extreme Islamists,” reads a report by CNN.
Not even a single statement by the AU.
To add salt to injury, the US department of defence suggested the Nigerian army was not capable of confronting Boko Haram alone.
“The division in the north that mainly is engaging with Boko Haram … has recently shown signs of real fear,” said Alice Friend, the department’s African affairs director.
“They do not have the capabilities, the training or the equipment that Boko Haram does, and Boko Haram is exceptionally brutal and indiscriminate in their attacks.”
We know the West especially Uncle Sam’s interests to Nigeria.
Nigeria is rich with oil.
It provides a new alternative to the US’ avenues of looting the revered resources across the world.
As such we should be aware that those drones that they are sending to Nigeria will never be returned after the completion of the Boko Haram mission.
In the same vein, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s suggestion that Boko Haram is working with the helping hand of outsiders must never be taken lightly.
“Boko is no longer a local terror group, it is clearly operating as an al Qaeda operation,” said President Jonathan.
The US has never really fended off accusations that it works hand in glove with al Qaeda.
This brings us to the Libyan link.
There are several reports that Boko Haram is heavily equipped with weaponry inherited from rebels who benefitted from the anti-Muammar Gaddafi and NATO sponsored rebellion in 2011.
This is why America speaks confidently about the Nigerian army’s alleged incapacity to fight Boko Haram.
It should be remembered that when it was agreed during an AU summit in Accra in 2007 that there was need for a United States of Africa, Gaddafi’s suggestion for a united army was shot down by some West African nations.
We all know that Gaddafi was brutally murdered by the same Western nations that now want to ‘help’ Nigeria deal with the Boko Haram issue.
There will be no celebrations on Sunday.
Rather we should be mourning the death of African solidarity.
We should on Sunday hide our heads in shame.
We have killed the dream of Africa’s founding fathers.
Until Africa raises its voice, Sunday will just be another day on our calendar.
There will not be any celebrations even in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Kwakanuka Africa, pawakavata ndipapo!
Let those with ears listen.