(NEWZIMBABWE) The trouble with Obama's Africa strategy

The trouble with Obama's Africa strategy
by Rudolf Okonkwo
09/07/2009 00:00:00

ANYONE who has ever worked at the State Department will tell you that by just inviting them to the White House, some African leaders will hand over to you the key to their country’s treasury. If you give their sons and daughters scholarship to Harvard, they will sign on any dotted lines, and if you like, they will become your spy in their own country.

That must have been the thinking behind President Obama’s African strategy. Later in the week, the president will visit Africa. He will not be visiting Kenya, his father’s country, or Nigeria, the giant in the West. He will be visiting Ghana, the tiny West African country that has demonstrated stability and democratic gains.

"The President and Mrs. Obama look forward to strengthening the U.S. relationship with one of our most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and to highlighting the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development," said the White House press secretary.

By visiting Ghana only, President Obama will be snubbing some of Africa’s big nations. In more ways than one, he will be telling other African countries to shape up or be ignored by the United States.

But the truth is rather different. Just like the Middle East, the United States cannot afford to ignore the big and troublesome African nations.

The first reason is that the problems in Africa are often caused by lines of conflict in some of these big nations. By embracing the small and more successful nations like Ghana, the United States may hope to use it to set example but Africa is not known for learning from examples. The small nations in Africa are also in no position to influence things within the big nations. Instead what has been observed is that crises in the big nations end up destabilizing the small nations.

The second reason is that the Chinese are already in Africa, doing business and establishing spheres of influence. If America wants to make headway in a continent that has long been dominated by European colonial powers, now is the time for America to step in and become involved.

The third reason is that African leaders, when ignored, tend to commit more atrocities against their own people. Sudan, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, all come to mind. In recent time, African leaders have found ways to live without the United States. They are now contented with sending the money they stole not just to Europe and the Caribbean Islands, but now to South Africa.

It will not be long before President Obama recognises that Africa must be engaged, not side-stepped. The fight over the resources in Africa is heating up. In fact, a new scramble for Africa is taking place. America must take its place at the table or be left out as the first frontiers of the world, once forgotten, is rediscovered and re-explored.

Africa is a land of proverbs and folklores. There is no place in the African story where snubbing is depicted as a good thing. President Obama is seen across Africa as a son that has done good for himself. Along the way, the president must embark on a triumphant homecoming. Such will give him an opportunity to connect with the African streets. Nothing will be more threatening to the despots who control many capitals across Africa than to have a black president of America strolling on the streets of their country like a colossus.

Rudolf Okonkwo is a syndicated columnist from Nigeria