Re-Colonizing Africa

POWERLESSNESS

Tyranny, repression, and sectarianism have persisted in the African continent since independence. These have effectively disempowered the Africans and made them ripe for any possibilities of future re-colonization.  The common discourse is that African states can easily be re-colonized by a small country like Malta, Laos or Moldova should they decide to. Shouldn’t this state of vulnerability become a matter of concern to Pan-Africanists?

This article is to elicit public debate on whether the reproduction of undemocratic African “Strongman Phenomenon” has helped strengthen the African states and continent from foreign aggression, or has made Africa much more vulnerable for physical re-colonization than before. By “Physical Re-colonization” I mean foreign invading forces matching with boots on the African soil to take over the day-to-day administration of any African State, including Uganda.

To make sense of this debate and its relevance, one must discount the existing international laws that bar countries from meddling into the autonomy of another country.  There is a plethora of such useless laws. However, what we also know is that certain countries with money and military might, have not obeyed these laws. They have found their own excuses and reasons to disorganize states such as Iraq, Afghan, Libya, Syria and so forth.  

In addition, the un-ending  quest for vital resources, such as those used in cellphones and computers, as well as the desire for controlling freshwater bodies are predictive of future wars. Such are reasons for re-colonization. Already a failed state like Southern Sudan is begging for foreign interventionist force to put its refugee tents in order. What then awaits Africa in the unfortunate event that those very greedy and insatiable superpowers decide to recolonize the continent or at least, some African countries?

Now, the global order is strife with neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism modes of control. The so-called privatization and forced adoption of two-faced regimes have allowed a co-existence between tyrannical, oligarchic, and repressive regimes to operate alongside complex neo-liberal market systems. This arrangement provides a perfect mechanism that seamlessly fuses foreign interests with the inherent interests of the tyrants – the Strongmen of Africa.

The production and reproduction of the Strongmen Model of leadership in Africa have in essence, lessened the strength of the Africans from organizing and developing internal capacity to resist an onslaught. Since these African leaders enact laws that disempower their masses – such laws that ban the inherent freedom to associate, to assemble, to organize and even to speak freely, the ability of Africans to transcend their predicaments have also declined over the decades. Many Ugandans are unable to demonstrate, or to speak out against state brutality, corruption, sectarianism, or bad governance for fear of repercussions. Such fears mean that they cannot obtain accountability, participate freely in civic discourses, or make a case for regime change because the Strongmen own the means of coercion and uses it viciously to thwart any such potential.

Given the distance between the government and its people, only two possible things could happen in the face of a foreign aggression;

Either – the population would readily and gladly ally with the invaders to alter the repressive status-quo as it was in Libya; or, the population would thaw into submission, without any resistance, to be overwhelmed by a minimal invader’s forces as when the Banyamulenge dispatched Mobutu in Zaire.

We have learnt that the Strongman’s army cannot be professionalized fully. It can only be disciplined in as far as protecting the status quo and is fiercely anti-people. As long as such armies are loyal and aligned to protect the exploitative nature of the Strongman, it is considered “professional”. The strength of such armies is glorified when tested repetitively against unarmed civilians. Such armies usually capitulate in the face of organized foreign invasion.

There is a merit to this debate. Socially and politically conscious Pan Africanists should expound on it.  The African people are very vulnerable right now given their traumatic endurance of the “strongmen”.  We may easily face a re-colonization if status quo is not challenged henceforth.

END.