One key outcome of the African Renaissance debate in the 1990’s is the decision to re-define Africa’s relationship with the rest of the world by employing the paradigm of strategic partnerships in place of dependency. The independance of Africa has never before been respected and not many of us all know that she's growing up, tall and stronger than before.
African Independence
“Let us resolve that we will stop spreading dependency and start spreading opportunity; that we will stop spreading bondage and start spreading freedom.” -Ronald Reagan.
Abandoning dependency, Africa has engaged in strategic partnerships whereby relationships have been redefined by appealing a to mutual beneficial relationships whereby commodities or services are exchanged for reaching common strategic objectives for both parties rather than being a contingent to another state for self-seeking goals. As a notion of Africa’s growth and development policy vis-à-vis the realisation of the African Renaissance, strategic partnerships lay the foundation to reach such goals and objectives by adopting organisational bodies such as the G8 as well as partnering with state actors such as China. Resources, skills and several services are exchanged within capacity in order to fulfil each stakeholder’s national policy by strengthening its foreign policy in terms of strategic engagement. This paper will analyse Africa’s move toward independence, what local leaders have contributed to this notion of strategic partnerships as well as an analysis of both the G8 in a negative light and then China’s relationship with Africa in a more positive light. What we will demonstrate in this paper, is the optimistic legacy that Africa’s independence will play out in reaching its growth and development plans of the African Renaissance especially true by various African leaders who had different approaches and aims in using strategic partnerships to benefit Africa as a whole.
Redefining Africa’s relationship: From dependency to strategic partnerships
“When we are in partnership and have stopped clutching each other's throats, when we have stopped enslaving each other, we will stand together, hands clasped, and be friends. we will be comrades, we will be brothers, and we will begin the march to the grandest civilization the human race has ever known.”
-Eugene Debs
Africa’s pathway from dependency had meant that underdevelopment played a huge factor to steer the wheel towards independence. Structures such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which abandoned the dependency approach, embraces the need for Africa’s endorsement of neoliberalism (Owusu; 2002). The following factors were seen detrimental in steering Africa towards the neo-liberalist approach in terms of releasing itself from dependency ;
· Neo-liberalism would intensify growth and sustainable development for Africa in terms of eradicating poverty,
· Africa would not be seen as a continent of marginalism,
· The emergence of favourable and practical political and economic environments would allow the transformation of the African economy as a whole,
· A sensation of pragmatic optimism and excitement in fulfilling Africa’s goals will too emerge.
Herein, the role to eradicate dependency and replace it with strategic partnerships lay in the hands of African leadership to steer this ship towards the sails of growth and sustainable development. The first type of strategic partnership may be that of regionalism which bith politically and economically plays a vital role in the emancipation of Africa to lead itself in the global economy. This is seen in Mbeki’s support of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as another example of building strategic alliances in this case, other than that of the cause of NEPAD. A shared vision, unity and cohesion are all driving factors toward neo-liberalist approaches of strategic partnerships whereby it shall strive to uphold. Many of Africa’s leaders have fore-fronted strategic relationships with the world and from within Africa in their unique leadership styles. We will see how Mbeki has integrated his approach of regionalism and multilateralism; we will see the direction that Obasanjo has taken via unilateralism for economic growth and development, we will see how also unilateralism plays a role with anti-terrorism as in the case of Bouteflika,
Thabo Mbeki on strategic partnerships: Regionalism and Multilateralism
“Regional economic cooperation and integration offer us the opportunity to pool our limited resources and build an economic base to address the challenges of economic growth and development,”
-Thabo Mbeki, 2008.
By embracing the SADC, Mbeki’s vision is to raise the importance of regional integration to ensure that this type of strategic partnership grapples against the fight of underdevelopment, instability, poverty and marginalisation (Mbeki; 2008) Reiterating what Mbeki has determined, security in terms of being economically viable is indeed a pillar of growth for Africa- a competitive Africa, is an Africa whom is an independent winner against the world. We could analyse that Mbeki’s vision to build African partnerships come from within Africa. By uniting states of Africa to in sense of togetherness in its role for the African Renaissance by achieving regionalism. Other than regionalism, an outward vision of creating and maintaining strategic partnerships as outlined by Mbeki as seen through his dialogue with the European Commission (EU) (European Commission; 2006). Louis Michel from the EU had stated to Mbeki that strategic dialogue with Africa is vital through political dialogue as Africa has been recognised in its underpinnings of African Renaissance that development through strategic partnership is pivotal once again in terms of multilateralism wherein deeper dialogue is enforced between Africa and the EU (European Commission; 2006). Mbeki and the EU aim to strengthen areas of partnership economically, politically, scientifically and culturally (European Commission; 2006).
What Mbeki over the years in and out of the office has aimed to achieve therefore, is to drive Africa into strategic partnerships both inwardly via regionalism (SADC) and outwardly via multilateralism (EU). Economically, politically, scientifically and culturally, Mbeki wishes that Africa be the main contingent in leading its independence toward sustainable growth and development.
Olusegun Obasanjo and Abdoulaye Wade on strategic partnerships: A unilateral lesson for Africa
“Friendship and cooperation are built on solid rock with mutual interest, respect, understanding and appreciation [which] we will serve as a basis for peace, security and stability in the world.”
-Olusegun Obasanjo, 2012.
We will further discuss China and its relationship with Africa later in this paper however let us delve into the special state-to-state (unilateral) relationship that Nigeria and Senegal independently has with China directly. Obasanjo and Wade had announced that an investment from China for increased infrastructural development in Nigeria was necessary to achieve the common interests of China and Nigeria as well as Senegal (News24.com 11 August 2012). Chinese enterprises and entrepreneurs were to continue invest in Nigeria and Senegal and especially for Nigeria, in the area of building and construction which is part of Nigeria’s national indaba (News24.com 11 August 2012). By marinating this partnership, China, Senegal and Nigeria could then perhaps drive on the success of infrastructure by then inviting China to invest in education, health and culture (News24.com 11 August 2012). We see that in this type of mutually beneficial relationship, both parties win in terms of return. A direct relationship may bear fruits of abundance in terms that the nature of the relationship can develop and strengthen in other areas, by cherishing and nurturing this one on one relationship and networking directly.
“If you get it right in Nigeria with one quarter of Africa’s population, you are likely to get it right on the continent,’’ Obasanjo (2006). A lesson that Obasanjo has put forth to Africa was that the Chinese can aid in the crucial part of infrastructure development that has benefited the Nigerian economy, and which is necessary for the African Renaissance to flourish- that African states can rest assured that the pillars for development may lie in strengthening ties with the Chinese and as Wade has determined, “we will win the battle for Africa, which is in effect a battle for Humanity.”
Bouteflika on strategic partnerships: Social stability through bilateralism
“Renew dialogue and exchanges.”
-Abdelaziz Bouteflika
We have up to now, seen ways and mechanisms whereby which African leadership has led to different partnership creation on the basis on economic growth and development. Here we have the next African leader, the Algerian President Abdelaziz Boutelflika who will see strategic partnerships in terms of African peace and security from within. This relationship also determines how a bilateral approach of a strategic partnership in terms of dialogue and an exchange of resources will deepen the development goals of the African Renaissance in the context of building peace and security (North Africa United Agency, 13 December 2011). Algeria and the United States of America (USA) as well as Russia share a common goal that led to their partnership with Algeria in the fight against al-Qaeda and terrorism as a whole (North Africa United Agency, 13 December 2011). The emergence of AFRICOM too ensures this global fight for peace and security as well in addressing issues centred on counterterrorism (North Africa United Agency, 13 December 2011). By using the inward goals of a nation (national policy) here too we see how these nations benefit from this type of relationship.
Africa’s engagement with the G8, a critique of this milestone
“It is explained that all relationships require a little give and take. This is untrue. Any partnership demands that we give and give and give and at the last, as we flop into our graves exhausted, we are told that we didn't give enough.”
-Quentin Cisp
By noting the differences of stance related to how African leaders have dealt with strategic partnerships individually as an independent nation, let us now dive into a special type of multilateral strategic relationship, against dependency, that is known as the Group of 8 (G8).
By nature, the G8 is composed of nations that both economically powerful and influential. Pushing policies of global noteworthiness, the G8 influences decisions in leading organisations such as the World Bank as well as the World Trade Organisations to name but a few. Here we have power dynamics that is technically different to the nature of the relationship between those African leaders we have discussed. Where Mbeki and Wade provide a more inward strategy that has been successful for Africa, the G8 has a more linear approach of consolidated objectives that are less efficacious than the strategic partnerships within Africa directly that we have discussed. “The poor man who enters into a partnership with one who is rich makes a risky venture.” Titus Maccius Plautus As a way to discern some of its differences, let us tackle the ways in which the G8 has been problematic (Shah, 2008);
· The G8 has no permanent staff, headquarters, or a set of governing rules to body the organisation as well as the respective individuals. How does policy then be implemented and run accordingly is a question of organisational leadership that is deterring the African agenda.
· By bypassing the United Nations on several occasions, it has added to the greater demise of global governance. Thus divisions within agenda’s or driving one’s own agenda deters once again the African agenda- this issue of global governance hinders Africa in its independence as it they may have to depend on certain states or leaders to drive their agenda which places Africa in a state of vulnerability.
· The Non-Action Plan for Africa was a striking battle whereby the richest nations of the world, did not put forth issues of the poorer nations and instead want Africa to deal with Africa’s issues.
· Development aid is still US$ 11 billion short from the G8’s US$ 50 billion promise to African and other third world countries.
· The G8 has also cut down its donations for HIV/AIDS- whereby the G8 feels that it should focus on other health related issues.
Africa and the G8: A way forward
“And for those weeping willows that use the financial crisis as the mother of all excuses, just pause a moment to think of corporate bailouts and corporate bonuses. Something is completely out of whack.”
-Stephen Lewis, 2010.
Much has been said about the failure of the G8 to attend to Africa’s needs. We shall not delve too much in the G8’s shortcomings as we know that much is yet to be done in order for Africa to benefit from that outward strategic partnership. In order for Africa’s agenda to put forward into successful implementation thereof, the following factors are detrimental for the G8 (Lee, S and Silver, A; 2009).
· Strengthening transparency and accountability,
· Enhancing sound regulation,
· Promoting integrity in financial markets,
· Reinforcing international cooperation,
· Reforming the international financial institutions.
“The poor man who enters into a partnership with one who is rich makes a risky venture.” Titus Maccius Plautus.
Promises such as the G8 effectively lifting millions out of poverty in Africa by creating and maintaining investments in agriculture has raised much criticism when announcing the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition as endorsed by President Barack Obama (Radio Netherlands Worldwide: Africa.20 May 2012). This pledge is seen as highly ambitious from civil society and audiences alike as many feel that these policies lack commitment, lack credibility and is not transparently comprehensible (Radio Netherlands Worldwide: Africa.20 May 2012). This type of outward strategic partnership may not benefit Africa after all as it speaks more the interests of the leaders of the G8 and not for the sake of Africa’s agenda. On the other hand, a more developed nation, a more advanced nation who has risen to power- China, seems to have a more beneficial relationship to Africa, much to the dismay of the global audience. However, one need to understand when comparing the G8 and Africa from China and Africa that China has more to offer whereby Africa will reach its potential and the goals of the African Renaissance.
Raising Africa, Rising China
“China, as a true friend of Africa, has provided sincere and unconditional aid for the continent by improving infrastructure and pouring investment there.”
-David Muskyoka, 2012.
There has always been much commotion about the nature of relationship with Africa and China. The West views as China with no regard for human rights is basically taking advantage of vulnerable Africa- this push/pull type of relationship. This paper is however in support of such a relationship as we see this relationship with Africa more beneficial than not. However we must note that Africa does not depend on China, but merely promotes a strategic partnership with the state. Even without countries with mineral resources, China has invested willingly into the African continent unlike most counterparts of the West (Musyoka, D. 2012). The following countries, in strength of this argument has benefited from Chinese investment (Musyoka, D. 2012);
· Kenya: this country has only recently discovered oil, however in the last ten (10) years; infrastructure development has been accelerated by China as well as financially through concession loans and grants.
· Ethiopia: has also benefited in terms of infrastructure development by China which has aided the country in its greater goals to achieve such as education and health care.
As we can see by the nature of this exchange and more so with China and other African countries, this relationship is not exploitative but merely supportive. A African nation with its individual development goals simply uses the Chinese to booster their plans for development using affordable rates and a highly skilled work force. By applying those skills and development into Africa, those can be harnessed and makes provision for Africa to be in a position to maintain such sustainable development. Where Africa is in the need for newly build structures such as roads, hospitals, schools and water systems, China may be the key provider with a win-win situation.
Africa for Africans
“If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa know a song of me? Will the air over the plain quiver with a colour that I have had on, or the children invent a game in which my name is, or the full moon throw a shadow over the gravel of the drive that was like me, or will the eagles of the Ngong Hills look out for me?.”
-Out of Africa, Karen Blixen.
If we as Africans have much to offer to the world, what does the world offer to Africa- strategically, beneficially and whole heartedly for the African cause? Strategic partnerships which build upon the legacy of the African renaissance are of a pertinent discourse to give rise to the re-birth of Africans. The 1990’s has indeed reshaped Africa’s vision to re-define Africa’s relationship with the rest of the world in the place of dependency where we have in place strategic partnerships both outwardly and from within directly. The great leaders from Boutelflika to Wade have left behind a positive field to build on nurturing partnerships.By creating such partnerships, it gives Africa the resources and skills to also develop independently and become the world’s underdog in development. Africa for Africans, that is all.
African Independence
“Let us resolve that we will stop spreading dependency and start spreading opportunity; that we will stop spreading bondage and start spreading freedom.” -Ronald Reagan.
Abandoning dependency, Africa has engaged in strategic partnerships whereby relationships have been redefined by appealing a to mutual beneficial relationships whereby commodities or services are exchanged for reaching common strategic objectives for both parties rather than being a contingent to another state for self-seeking goals. As a notion of Africa’s growth and development policy vis-à-vis the realisation of the African Renaissance, strategic partnerships lay the foundation to reach such goals and objectives by adopting organisational bodies such as the G8 as well as partnering with state actors such as China. Resources, skills and several services are exchanged within capacity in order to fulfil each stakeholder’s national policy by strengthening its foreign policy in terms of strategic engagement. This paper will analyse Africa’s move toward independence, what local leaders have contributed to this notion of strategic partnerships as well as an analysis of both the G8 in a negative light and then China’s relationship with Africa in a more positive light. What we will demonstrate in this paper, is the optimistic legacy that Africa’s independence will play out in reaching its growth and development plans of the African Renaissance especially true by various African leaders who had different approaches and aims in using strategic partnerships to benefit Africa as a whole.
Redefining Africa’s relationship: From dependency to strategic partnerships
“When we are in partnership and have stopped clutching each other's throats, when we have stopped enslaving each other, we will stand together, hands clasped, and be friends. we will be comrades, we will be brothers, and we will begin the march to the grandest civilization the human race has ever known.”
-Eugene Debs
Africa’s pathway from dependency had meant that underdevelopment played a huge factor to steer the wheel towards independence. Structures such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which abandoned the dependency approach, embraces the need for Africa’s endorsement of neoliberalism (Owusu; 2002). The following factors were seen detrimental in steering Africa towards the neo-liberalist approach in terms of releasing itself from dependency ;
· Neo-liberalism would intensify growth and sustainable development for Africa in terms of eradicating poverty,
· Africa would not be seen as a continent of marginalism,
· The emergence of favourable and practical political and economic environments would allow the transformation of the African economy as a whole,
· A sensation of pragmatic optimism and excitement in fulfilling Africa’s goals will too emerge.
Herein, the role to eradicate dependency and replace it with strategic partnerships lay in the hands of African leadership to steer this ship towards the sails of growth and sustainable development. The first type of strategic partnership may be that of regionalism which bith politically and economically plays a vital role in the emancipation of Africa to lead itself in the global economy. This is seen in Mbeki’s support of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as another example of building strategic alliances in this case, other than that of the cause of NEPAD. A shared vision, unity and cohesion are all driving factors toward neo-liberalist approaches of strategic partnerships whereby it shall strive to uphold. Many of Africa’s leaders have fore-fronted strategic relationships with the world and from within Africa in their unique leadership styles. We will see how Mbeki has integrated his approach of regionalism and multilateralism; we will see the direction that Obasanjo has taken via unilateralism for economic growth and development, we will see how also unilateralism plays a role with anti-terrorism as in the case of Bouteflika,
Thabo Mbeki on strategic partnerships: Regionalism and Multilateralism
“Regional economic cooperation and integration offer us the opportunity to pool our limited resources and build an economic base to address the challenges of economic growth and development,”
-Thabo Mbeki, 2008.
By embracing the SADC, Mbeki’s vision is to raise the importance of regional integration to ensure that this type of strategic partnership grapples against the fight of underdevelopment, instability, poverty and marginalisation (Mbeki; 2008) Reiterating what Mbeki has determined, security in terms of being economically viable is indeed a pillar of growth for Africa- a competitive Africa, is an Africa whom is an independent winner against the world. We could analyse that Mbeki’s vision to build African partnerships come from within Africa. By uniting states of Africa to in sense of togetherness in its role for the African Renaissance by achieving regionalism. Other than regionalism, an outward vision of creating and maintaining strategic partnerships as outlined by Mbeki as seen through his dialogue with the European Commission (EU) (European Commission; 2006). Louis Michel from the EU had stated to Mbeki that strategic dialogue with Africa is vital through political dialogue as Africa has been recognised in its underpinnings of African Renaissance that development through strategic partnership is pivotal once again in terms of multilateralism wherein deeper dialogue is enforced between Africa and the EU (European Commission; 2006). Mbeki and the EU aim to strengthen areas of partnership economically, politically, scientifically and culturally (European Commission; 2006).
What Mbeki over the years in and out of the office has aimed to achieve therefore, is to drive Africa into strategic partnerships both inwardly via regionalism (SADC) and outwardly via multilateralism (EU). Economically, politically, scientifically and culturally, Mbeki wishes that Africa be the main contingent in leading its independence toward sustainable growth and development.
Olusegun Obasanjo and Abdoulaye Wade on strategic partnerships: A unilateral lesson for Africa
“Friendship and cooperation are built on solid rock with mutual interest, respect, understanding and appreciation [which] we will serve as a basis for peace, security and stability in the world.”
-Olusegun Obasanjo, 2012.
We will further discuss China and its relationship with Africa later in this paper however let us delve into the special state-to-state (unilateral) relationship that Nigeria and Senegal independently has with China directly. Obasanjo and Wade had announced that an investment from China for increased infrastructural development in Nigeria was necessary to achieve the common interests of China and Nigeria as well as Senegal (News24.com 11 August 2012). Chinese enterprises and entrepreneurs were to continue invest in Nigeria and Senegal and especially for Nigeria, in the area of building and construction which is part of Nigeria’s national indaba (News24.com 11 August 2012). By marinating this partnership, China, Senegal and Nigeria could then perhaps drive on the success of infrastructure by then inviting China to invest in education, health and culture (News24.com 11 August 2012). We see that in this type of mutually beneficial relationship, both parties win in terms of return. A direct relationship may bear fruits of abundance in terms that the nature of the relationship can develop and strengthen in other areas, by cherishing and nurturing this one on one relationship and networking directly.
“If you get it right in Nigeria with one quarter of Africa’s population, you are likely to get it right on the continent,’’ Obasanjo (2006). A lesson that Obasanjo has put forth to Africa was that the Chinese can aid in the crucial part of infrastructure development that has benefited the Nigerian economy, and which is necessary for the African Renaissance to flourish- that African states can rest assured that the pillars for development may lie in strengthening ties with the Chinese and as Wade has determined, “we will win the battle for Africa, which is in effect a battle for Humanity.”
Bouteflika on strategic partnerships: Social stability through bilateralism
“Renew dialogue and exchanges.”
-Abdelaziz Bouteflika
We have up to now, seen ways and mechanisms whereby which African leadership has led to different partnership creation on the basis on economic growth and development. Here we have the next African leader, the Algerian President Abdelaziz Boutelflika who will see strategic partnerships in terms of African peace and security from within. This relationship also determines how a bilateral approach of a strategic partnership in terms of dialogue and an exchange of resources will deepen the development goals of the African Renaissance in the context of building peace and security (North Africa United Agency, 13 December 2011). Algeria and the United States of America (USA) as well as Russia share a common goal that led to their partnership with Algeria in the fight against al-Qaeda and terrorism as a whole (North Africa United Agency, 13 December 2011). The emergence of AFRICOM too ensures this global fight for peace and security as well in addressing issues centred on counterterrorism (North Africa United Agency, 13 December 2011). By using the inward goals of a nation (national policy) here too we see how these nations benefit from this type of relationship.
Africa’s engagement with the G8, a critique of this milestone
“It is explained that all relationships require a little give and take. This is untrue. Any partnership demands that we give and give and give and at the last, as we flop into our graves exhausted, we are told that we didn't give enough.”
-Quentin Cisp
By noting the differences of stance related to how African leaders have dealt with strategic partnerships individually as an independent nation, let us now dive into a special type of multilateral strategic relationship, against dependency, that is known as the Group of 8 (G8).
By nature, the G8 is composed of nations that both economically powerful and influential. Pushing policies of global noteworthiness, the G8 influences decisions in leading organisations such as the World Bank as well as the World Trade Organisations to name but a few. Here we have power dynamics that is technically different to the nature of the relationship between those African leaders we have discussed. Where Mbeki and Wade provide a more inward strategy that has been successful for Africa, the G8 has a more linear approach of consolidated objectives that are less efficacious than the strategic partnerships within Africa directly that we have discussed. “The poor man who enters into a partnership with one who is rich makes a risky venture.” Titus Maccius Plautus As a way to discern some of its differences, let us tackle the ways in which the G8 has been problematic (Shah, 2008);
· The G8 has no permanent staff, headquarters, or a set of governing rules to body the organisation as well as the respective individuals. How does policy then be implemented and run accordingly is a question of organisational leadership that is deterring the African agenda.
· By bypassing the United Nations on several occasions, it has added to the greater demise of global governance. Thus divisions within agenda’s or driving one’s own agenda deters once again the African agenda- this issue of global governance hinders Africa in its independence as it they may have to depend on certain states or leaders to drive their agenda which places Africa in a state of vulnerability.
· The Non-Action Plan for Africa was a striking battle whereby the richest nations of the world, did not put forth issues of the poorer nations and instead want Africa to deal with Africa’s issues.
· Development aid is still US$ 11 billion short from the G8’s US$ 50 billion promise to African and other third world countries.
· The G8 has also cut down its donations for HIV/AIDS- whereby the G8 feels that it should focus on other health related issues.
Africa and the G8: A way forward
“And for those weeping willows that use the financial crisis as the mother of all excuses, just pause a moment to think of corporate bailouts and corporate bonuses. Something is completely out of whack.”
-Stephen Lewis, 2010.
Much has been said about the failure of the G8 to attend to Africa’s needs. We shall not delve too much in the G8’s shortcomings as we know that much is yet to be done in order for Africa to benefit from that outward strategic partnership. In order for Africa’s agenda to put forward into successful implementation thereof, the following factors are detrimental for the G8 (Lee, S and Silver, A; 2009).
· Strengthening transparency and accountability,
· Enhancing sound regulation,
· Promoting integrity in financial markets,
· Reinforcing international cooperation,
· Reforming the international financial institutions.
“The poor man who enters into a partnership with one who is rich makes a risky venture.” Titus Maccius Plautus.
Promises such as the G8 effectively lifting millions out of poverty in Africa by creating and maintaining investments in agriculture has raised much criticism when announcing the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition as endorsed by President Barack Obama (Radio Netherlands Worldwide: Africa.20 May 2012). This pledge is seen as highly ambitious from civil society and audiences alike as many feel that these policies lack commitment, lack credibility and is not transparently comprehensible (Radio Netherlands Worldwide: Africa.20 May 2012). This type of outward strategic partnership may not benefit Africa after all as it speaks more the interests of the leaders of the G8 and not for the sake of Africa’s agenda. On the other hand, a more developed nation, a more advanced nation who has risen to power- China, seems to have a more beneficial relationship to Africa, much to the dismay of the global audience. However, one need to understand when comparing the G8 and Africa from China and Africa that China has more to offer whereby Africa will reach its potential and the goals of the African Renaissance.
Raising Africa, Rising China
“China, as a true friend of Africa, has provided sincere and unconditional aid for the continent by improving infrastructure and pouring investment there.”
-David Muskyoka, 2012.
There has always been much commotion about the nature of relationship with Africa and China. The West views as China with no regard for human rights is basically taking advantage of vulnerable Africa- this push/pull type of relationship. This paper is however in support of such a relationship as we see this relationship with Africa more beneficial than not. However we must note that Africa does not depend on China, but merely promotes a strategic partnership with the state. Even without countries with mineral resources, China has invested willingly into the African continent unlike most counterparts of the West (Musyoka, D. 2012). The following countries, in strength of this argument has benefited from Chinese investment (Musyoka, D. 2012);
· Kenya: this country has only recently discovered oil, however in the last ten (10) years; infrastructure development has been accelerated by China as well as financially through concession loans and grants.
· Ethiopia: has also benefited in terms of infrastructure development by China which has aided the country in its greater goals to achieve such as education and health care.
As we can see by the nature of this exchange and more so with China and other African countries, this relationship is not exploitative but merely supportive. A African nation with its individual development goals simply uses the Chinese to booster their plans for development using affordable rates and a highly skilled work force. By applying those skills and development into Africa, those can be harnessed and makes provision for Africa to be in a position to maintain such sustainable development. Where Africa is in the need for newly build structures such as roads, hospitals, schools and water systems, China may be the key provider with a win-win situation.
Africa for Africans
“If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa know a song of me? Will the air over the plain quiver with a colour that I have had on, or the children invent a game in which my name is, or the full moon throw a shadow over the gravel of the drive that was like me, or will the eagles of the Ngong Hills look out for me?.”
-Out of Africa, Karen Blixen.
If we as Africans have much to offer to the world, what does the world offer to Africa- strategically, beneficially and whole heartedly for the African cause? Strategic partnerships which build upon the legacy of the African renaissance are of a pertinent discourse to give rise to the re-birth of Africans. The 1990’s has indeed reshaped Africa’s vision to re-define Africa’s relationship with the rest of the world in the place of dependency where we have in place strategic partnerships both outwardly and from within directly. The great leaders from Boutelflika to Wade have left behind a positive field to build on nurturing partnerships.By creating such partnerships, it gives Africa the resources and skills to also develop independently and become the world’s underdog in development. Africa for Africans, that is all.
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