How to make Africa a global powerhouse
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) top seat, Raila Odinga, has touched on a very raw nerve that has hindered the complete unity of the African continent for years since independence. Odinga, while launching his campaign for AUC chair in Addis Ababa, echoed sentiments championed by the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who envisioned a politically and economically united Africa, with integrated trade and even a common currency for the continent.
Gaddafi’s push for unity alarmed former colonial powers, ultimately leading to his downfall during the foreign-backed Arab Spring, which toppled several regional leaders. He died in a culvert, his dream of a unified Africa unfulfilled.
Odinga’s proposal raises crucial questions: Can Africa shed colonial tags like “Francophone” and “Anglophone”? Today, nearly 60 years after most African nations gained independence, economic dependency remains, and many African countries continue to rely on their former colonial powers for essential support, despite the continent’s wealth in natural resources. If the founders of African independence were to see the continent today, they might be disappointed by the continued economic and social struggles. Challenges like prohibitive tariffs, restricted movement across borders, and strained neighbor relations undermine Africa’s progress. Former colonial powers, now called “developed nations,” maintain influence, often dividing African countries along former colonial lines—a situation that Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere once called ukoloni mamboleo (neo-colonialism).
While regional trade blocs organised by language offer benefits, they can also limit pan-African unity. Trade barriers have long restricted Africa’s potential, even as the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) founders once strongly promoted total African independence. The current African Union (AU), which replaced the OAU, must now advocate for complete economic liberation from former colonial powers.
Ultimately, democratic reforms and enhanced governance are essential for unlocking Africa’s resources and achieving economic self-reliance. Addressing internal conflicts will also be crucial to creating an environment for growth. Only with robust governance can African nations, including Odinga’s Kenya, hope to fully integrate, build strong economies, and strengthen Africa’s voice in global affairs.
David Kigo, Nairobi
