THE TENTH YEAR COMMEMORATION: 9/11 Where Africa stands

Article paru dans Le Mauricien | 10 septembre, 2011 - 15:00 | Par NIRMAL KUMAR BETCHOO

The tenth year commemoration of September 11 attacks in Lower Manhattan, New York city, USA, sheds light on the frailty of security systems not only in the most powerful nation of the world but equally in any part of the planet. The terrorist attack was the most followed live broadcast all over the world while it explained that the divide between the West and the poor nations had created breeding grounds for terrorism.
Although Al Qaeda was then represented by the rich and powerful Saudi, Osama Bin Laden, it reflected that the opposition to capitalist democracy could be challenged by the threat of terrorism. Instantly, former president George W. Bush announced that America was at war and summoned his troops to invade Afghanistan and Iraq in a double intention to uproot terrorism and oust influential dictator, Saddam Hussein.
Not that autocrats, or more commonly, dictators from the Arab World have been mostly put to silence by a combined effort of Western alliances, the threat of terrorism still appears not to be totally eradicated. Somalia, located at the horn of Africa, exists since a decade under lawless government and, more prominently, stands as the modern hive for pirates who capture vessels sailing through the Indian Ocean for handsome ransoms.
Africa’s position regarding 9/11
George W. Bush ushered that the world had either to be on the side of the USA or be on the terrorists’side. He meant that, apart from civilised Western values of democracy, the world could be fraught with corruption and terrorists. Locating terrorists was not so complex mathematically as these could be directly positioned within Arabian nations and the poorest parts of the developing world.
Apart from Iraq, Gaza and some other Islamic threat points, Africa was plainly stated as the breeding ground for terrorism. Sub-Saharan Africa was targeted as a potential base of malicious threat since mercenaries could be spotted in its undeveloped nations. It was clearly known that Sub-Saharan Africa was fraught with abject poverty, poor governance and puppet dictators unable to monitor effectively peace and stability.
Some time earlier to 9/11, the Bush administration considered coming to help to African nations under “trade not aid”. The White House was correct in stating that trading with Sub-Saharan Africa would be a new opportunity to get the Dark Continent out of poverty. The most commendable action that took place was the implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which would promote industrial development of Sub-Saharan Africa and boost trade opportunities for a continent that is usually viewed-or neglected-as Rest of the World.
The failure of the African Union
The opportunity to see a better-off Africa, free from corruption and no more dark-listed as terrorist nations, came from Muammar Gaddafi’s plan to re-engineer the African Union (former OAU). Gaddafi, then self-proclaimed as pan-African leader, wanted to provide handsome Libyan funding to its poor neighbours and show that, unlike Al Qaeda, he would set pace for a more peaceful and stable Africa.
The African Union, as a transnational organisation, initially welcomed Gaddafi’s views but surrendered when it considered single-leader dominance as a threat to open debate and independent democracies that Africa was aiming at.
The African time bomb
Trade in Africa, in conformity with the US trade strategy “trade not aid” worked out successfully with more support from the Obama administration as from 2008 onwards coupled with a more sympathetic attitude to Africa. Compared to military invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Africa has so far been spared military invasion-exception to the 2011 NATO attacks on Libya.
Far from expecting Africa to progress and burn the roots of terrorism, the Dark Continent has seen its future compromised. Firstly, most of the world’s poorest people live in Sub-Saharan Africa under a mere $1 per day. Secondly, only a fistful of Sub-Saharan African nations-including Mauritius-have performed well while most of the other parts are unstable and economically dependent on foreign aid.
Added to these weaknesses is the high prevalence of HIV-AIDS with a population demography that is rising exponentially in several nations. For instance, Nigeria will be the fourth most populated nation in the world in twenty years’time. Poverty levels will be on the rise and lawless nations will keep rising in numbers. This could be everywhere, stemming from undeveloped areas in Madagascar or Democratic republic of Congo to ethnically-divided nations like Sudan, Niger, Guinée Bissau or Côte D’Ivoire.
Al Qaeda’s terrorist traps
African nations have, henceforth, become important breeding grounds for terrorism. Though Al Qaeda reigned long after 9/11 until its leaders were silenced, its death is still premature to be accounted. This organisation, a radical satellite terrorist army, claims itself to be the defender of Islam while clerics in the Muslim world totally disagree with its ideology. Al Qaeda has created antennas in Aceh, Indonesia, Pakistan with Lashkar al Taeba and deeper in the African desert lands like Niger, Somalia or Sudan, among others. Each terrorist cell follows its own radical ideas but accepts combining such efforts as a collective answer to Western imperialism.
Africa is definitely difficult to tame, if this refers, to eliminating poverty and wiping off terrorism. The chronic economic decline of the USA and Europe explains that lesser financial aid will flow to Africa. In turn, more black money will pour in corrupt governments and maintain the impending threat of terrorism.
A safe world
This 9/11 commemoration should not merely stand as a glorified tribute to all those who perished in the unforeseen tragedy. The images of two destroyer civilian planes blowing the Twin Towers will remain an indelible testimony of live terrorism broadcast globally. There are several lessons that have cropped ever since America, the superpower with “argile” feet crumbled under terrorism. Europe got also its share ; London followed by Madrid. In 2008, India suffered from hundreds of casualties and the scars remain difficult to erase.
A safe world remains a viable option with full support for democracy in Africa, broader access to education and the improvement of sanitation and physical infrastructure. Since 9/11, China has made inroads to Africa to quench its thirst for oil ; India has sent peace troops to maintain order in shaky regions of the Continent.
But poverty will breed infections like cholera and malaria, and ultimately terrorism. More than being a tenth anniversary for overwhelming compassion for Uncle Sam, Africa also needs consideration. All the woes of Sub-Saharan Africa remain so far unaddressed ; predictions get bleaker-a bit like a plagued Continent. This is where Africa stands when the sirens on D-day will call for self-confinement from all parts of the World. Poverty keeps breeding, alas !