Out of Africa

African politics is a quagmire of contradictions. Frankly, it has never been a model of consistency. Ever since the advent of the so-called modern age in Africa that followed more or less on the demise of colonialism on the continent, there has been inordinate levels of turmoil that ebbed and flowed. From all of that in the past came a potpourri of declarations and announcements. And through it all one was left wondering where exactly African nations saw themselves in the order of the world. Indeed, one still has no real clue.

The whole Mugabe affair has exposed the incongruous state of African politics on a continental level as well as on a national level. For one, the latest announcements from African leaders around the Zimbabwe debacle raise the question whether African nations somehow regard themselves as from another planet, where quite different rules and norms apply. Utterings such as "African problems must be solved in an African manner without external interference" appear at odd with reality.

Africa is not a federation where states deal with local matters as internal to the federation. It is not even a union such as the EU. In fact, it is a loose club of nations sitting on the same continent, sharing a similar history in some cases. But the divides and fault lines run very clearly and indeed sadly through that very fabric. Moreover, Africa in all its diversity of nations, finds itself in the world of today. The individual African states are each as much part of the world order as any state on another continent. And in the words of president Mugabe himself, Zimbabwe for example, is a sovereign state. That said, every other African state is a sovereign state in the global context, no more and no less. Therefore, any other nation that adheres to the principles of international law and human rights has an equal voice in expressing concern and requesting action against an unjust sovereign state, such as Zimbabwe that brutalises democracy and its very citizens.

Surely, Africans are not suddenly claiming some racist exclusivity for themselves as if nations not from the continent are somehow unqualified to comment or apply international measures to African leaders, governments and states? It is high time African states acknowledge that each African state is within the global order of this world and therefor subject to international scrutiny.

If Africans expect equal treatment with the rest of the world, then Africans should accept equal measure went it comes to their actions.

The state of the nation

This week the African Union gathered in Egypt for a summit. And a rather prickly item on the agenda was the desparate situation in Zimbabwe. Present in all his grimness was the so-called president of Zimbabwe, Mr Robert Mugage himself. So-called, because since the March elections this year, Mr Mugabe has not been president based upon a clear majority, but rather a minority leader hanging on for dear life. Such is the dawn of despots and the sunset for a once respected liberation leadership.

The cynic's take would be "there we have it - another chapter in the history of African politics". Nevertheless, the question before us all is what now, what next? Send in the troops a la Iraq or DRC? Continue quiet diplomacy, as is the tune of President Mbeki of South Africa? In the mean time lucrative mining deals are being closed by Anglo American in Zimbabwe. One may yet ponder the connection to the political turmoil in that state of such investments and potential returns.

In fact, one may ask what is the state of the nation for many countries in the world today as turmoil seems to follow the prospects of natural resources. The list makes for somber reading. Nigeria, the sixth largest oil producer, is in constant political turmoil. The DRC, rich in diamonds, copper and forestry, is emerging from a bloody civil war. In South Africa, stupendously rich in many commodities, political undercurrents and a power struggle are threatening the fledging democracy while the BEE program creates new fat cats on a gravy train surpassing the old National Party edition.

Central Asia, endowed with rich natural gas fields, is experiencing sudden surges of public and political unrest, with so-called democratic movements opposing rather authoritarian governments. It strikes one as odd that Mongolia, not usually a front page hit but sitting on a pot of resources, suddenly seems to be up in arms over so-called fraudulent elections, now that the latest run on resources is increasingly frenetic.

False correlation, one may say. Yet, when it comes to spreading and practicing democracy, all are not quite well. Special interests, lobbying, cronism, nepotism have infested the once noble structures of the Enlightenment. Subversion and intervention seem to be well and alive, even as current, disreputed leaderships have been tolerated or even condoned in the past by those instrumenting a change of guard.

One common theme appears to be a sudden upsurge in opposition parties and public disquiet, followed by an election the outcome of which only to be called into disrepute. It seems voting has become a futile interlude before a pre-designated elite of rulers take over the reigns. To be sure, many of the current governments in these troubled states do perform rather poorly. Many of these were installed with and though external meddling. The DRC, Nigeria, Sudan and Chile are examples. It strikes as odd the frequency with which election results are being questioned and especially where there is much internationally to be gained from installing specific figures into power. Russia, Gaza, Venezuela and Pakistan come to mind.

As it were, democracy worldwide today is in a rather bad shape, in need of an overhaul. The state of the nation is troubled to say the least. The eyes of the world turn to the presidential race in the USA in hope of a new beginning for democracy - of the people for the people. Or as the French would have it: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.