Insurgency
has a long standing history in Africa. This is notoriously known as the use of
arms by rebels against constituted authorities or governments. It became
prevalent in Africa during the colonial days and basically, it was used as a
means of communicating to the colonial authorities about the plights of the
denizens of the colonies. In many of the colonies, people with similar interest
came together to protest on issues that had adverse effects on them but most
often, these protests were coiled with brutalities so most of these protestants
resorted to the gorilla style of agitation. Mainly, these groups received
inspiration from countries like Cuba, the then USSR, and U.S.A.
The
tenacity of insurgency cannot be said without giving credit to the Eastern and
Western ideological conflict that ensued after the World War 2 which eventually
led to the Cold War. After the allied victory in the war, the Western allies
mainly Britain, France, and U.S.A and their Eastern counterparts from the Union
of Soviet Socialists Republics (U.S.S.R) sought to push policies that intended
their governance style to be emulated around the world. The West pushed for
Capitalism or the Free Market and Enterprise type of economy but the East
preferred Communism. This resulted in clashes in countries where these powers
had interest. Many of the world’s conflicts after the World War 2 came as a
result of this ideological struggle. Korea, Cuba, Vietnam just to mention a few
suffered intensely from this struggle.
In
Africa, the struggle was between the Western colonial authorities and the
independence seekers backed by the East. It is worth mentioning that Ghana,
Congo, Kenya, Guinea etc were all liberated through this means. After the fall
of colonialism, the struggle continued but this time between the constituted
authorities and militant insurgents seeking the overthrow of these authorities.
It is also important to note that some of these insurgents received huge
assistances from some of these world powers in order to protect their interests
in countries of interest. This should indicate at this point that insurgency
cannot thrive without these huge assistances and sponsorships. Even though the
sales of pillaged precious mineral have been cited as a source of funding, it
is still believed that insurgents cannot progress without sponsorships. Many of
Africa’s conflicts are as a result of insurgency sponsored by the East or the West. Countries like Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi are
infamously known to have suffered from these acts. Several coup d’états
including those in Ghana, Congo, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso have been made
possible because of this same ideological struggle between these world powers
aforementioned.
The
recent addition of terrorism to the persisting problem of insurgency in Africa
is breaking the camel’s back. It is a fact that insurgency has become a
lucrative career for African militants and other mercenaries and in some way or
the other some African governments have coped with that all these while but the
fact that these militants have come to understand that the committing of
suicide is part of a job content that seeks to destroy in large numbers must
put Africa’s well wishers on their toes. Zeroing in to groups involved, one cannot do
without these two; Al Shabaab and Boko Haram. Unfortunately both of them have
claimed the good teachings of Islam to be their source of motivation though
some of the Islamic scholars have denounced them vehemently.
Firstly
with Al Shabaab, a group that ensued as a result of its mother body’s (Islamic
Courts Union) defeat in 2006 with a
Sunni Islamism ideology, strict Sharia Takfir and a member of the Al Qaeda
Network, claim to be pushing for Islamic ideals and also fighting the ‘enemies
of Islam’ in Somalia with massive operations in Kenya and Somalia.
The
second to tackle is Boko Haram translated as western education is a sin, formed
in 2002 with inspiration from Wahhabism, Jihadism, Islamic Fundamentalism and a
staunch Sharia advocate claims that the best form of governance for the people
of the northern part of Nigeria is the Sharia type and also pushing for a
secession that would ensue in an Islamic state for the people of northern
Nigeria. With operations in Nigeria, Chad and the southern parts of Cameroon,
they have proven to be the deadliest so far.
Fortunately,
these notable groups’ interests have been clearly defined or spelt therefore
give room for probable solutions. But before that, one may ask these questions;
1. Could
there be a perpetual religious state in this era of the world where regional
and global integration principles are being seriously espoused by people
worldwide?
2. If
Africa’s Unity is a true objective of Africans, could there be parts of Africa
that would be governed by religious laws?
3. Could
Africa give up its unity for religious sentiments to emerge?
WAY FORWARD
It
would be very important at this juncture for all Africans to determine their
future whether in unison or individual capacities. The people and countries of
Africa must put forward their aspirations either through referenda or their
representatives whether to unite or go their separate ways. If Africa decides
on unity, it must bring and drag everyone on board including all these
insurgent groups. However if it decides otherwise, provisions must be made for
those Africans who see themselves as a common people through religion, tribe,
economic ideologies etc to determine their future whether through the establishments
of common territories, laws or governments. In all these (unity or separation),
one should not forget that human beings are those with special rights to enjoy.
RAYMOND N. FREMPONG FOR THE 4TH AFRICA STUDENTS AND YOUTH SUMMIT ORGANIZED BY THE ALL-AFRICA STUDENTS’ UNION (A.A.S.U) IN JULY 2014
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