In 1993 when Japan
organized the first Tokyo International Conference on African Development
(TICAD) only five African leaders attended. But 23 years later nearly 40
African heads of state and government participated at the sixth TICAD
conference held in Nairobi last week.
What began as a foreign
policy strategy with the sole purpose of enabling Japan to acquire the status
of great power in a post-cold war world is now a global convening of
significant repute. Moreover, the sixth TICAD could not have been timelier. The
year 2016 is considered the first year of implementation of the SDGs and
Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Agenda 2063 is commitment
to action by African leaders to join hands and build a prosperous and united
Africa over the next 50 years. A 50-year development-planning horizon is odd
and inspires little confidence about the sense of urgency or seriousness among
African leaders.
Virtually every major
global power has hosted or hosts a regular forum to gather Africans to talk
about their interests and how they plan to enable Africa’s development and
prosperity. In 2014, the US convened the first US-Africa Leaders Summit. China,
India and Europe have regular conferences.
Obviously, your guess is as
good as mine. The purpose of such
meetings is to discuss how to deepen trade and economic ties with the African
continent. Such meetings are often used by the conveners to reassure Africa of
their friendship as well as make all kinds of promises including pushing for
reforms with the United Nations to create a permanent seat for Africa in the UN
Security Council.
Africa is considered as the
“final frontier” of the world economy. All consequential global players,
including Israel, want a piece of the action. So any interest in Africa’s
development or prosperity is rolled neatly into deep and undisguised in
economic and foreign policy interests. What baffles me is why African countries
as a collective, are not clear-eyed and more discerning of the intentions of
the so-called development partnerships.
Honestly, I think that
TICAD from the first conference in 1993 up to the sixth one held in Nairobi in
August 2016 has been a sorry comedy of empty promises and grand posturing.
Pledges about Japan’s commitment to ensuring every African child attends and
completes school are unmet. Now there is a fresh pledge to support investments
in the power sector, agriculture and health.
China recently pledged $60
billion in aid. At TICAD, Japan promised $30 billion in development aid. This
is petty change. In my view this is such little money, given that Africa’s
combined GDP is about $2.4 trillion.
Mobilizing external
resources and building economic and trade ties is great for Africa. However, it
is time for Africans to take charge of their own development. Africa must
mobilize taxes and domestic savings more aggressively so we can prioritize and
finance Africa’s progress.
Africans must take
themselves seriously. And these perfunctory development conferences must end.
We are not poor and we must not be treated as needing charity.
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