From Object to Subject. Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe’s External Relations
A Joint International Conference in Berlin November 5-6th, 2007, organized by the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FNSt) and Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
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| Vines |
Within the EU, Britain is a very significant place as far as migrants from former colonies are concerned. This was highlighted by
Alex Vines, Head of Africa Programme Chatham House in the UK. He outlined that Britain’s policy towards Africa has changed significantly during the Blair years. Despite the fact that some diplomatic missions had been closed in Africa (Swaziland, Lesotho, Cameroon), and only two had been opened (Liberia, Guinea), Africa has become a major issue in foreign and domestic politics, underlined by the long lasting diplomatic row with Zimbabwe. Currently, Britain is even the major donor in the DR Congo, Mozambique and Ethiopia. And this increasing interest is not connected to 9/11, but a result of the humanitarian intervention in Sierra Leone in 2001 and the growing political influence of Africans living in Britain, the vast majority in London. Some constituencies already rely on these voters, and several local councils are dominated by Africans. This is proof that many within the Africans Diaspora are on the move, lead by Nigerians. Almost all of them have a legal status. The Nigerians represent the biggest group and the most successful migrants from developing countries in terms of career and integration. They even successfully compete with migrants from the US. However, according to recent studies, close to one million Africans live in Britain, more than 50% illegally. And within the new hierarchy among migrants, the Somalis are at the lower end of the bottom half of society. The migrants however, often reflect the political situation in some parts of Africa, and more and more clashes within the Diaspora occur, causing problems that the state is not yet capable to solve. Nevertheless, in Alex Vines’ view the migrants significantly contribute to the growth of the national economy. At the same time, the remittances to Africa have an enormous impact on the life and well-being of Africans in Africa.
Listen (mp3): Alex Vines
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| Ncube |
Although Zimbabwe did not feature high on the agenda at the conference in Berlin, the issue was nevertheless present, because it somehow overshadowed the forthcoming summit in Lisbon. Britain’s Prime Minister will definitely not take part in the Africa-EU summit, a decision that might have far-reaching implications for Britain’s policy towards Zimbabwe and the southern African sub-region and for the EU Africa policy at large. Whether Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe will show up in Lisbon remains to be seen. But he has been invited because the other major African and European leaders did not want to repeat the mistakes that caused the cancellation of the African-European summit in 2003. Even the organised political opposition in Zimbabwe wants Robert Mugabe to attend the summit in Lisbon, as
Welshman Ncube, MP and Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe, pointed out. But he put a lot of emphasis on the fact that the opposition expects the EU to speak with one voice on African-EU relations and on how to deal with Zimbabwe in the foreseeable future.
Listen (mp3): Welshman Ncube
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| Cooke |
In political and media circles within Europe and the US it is widely believed that at the end China’s engagement in Africa has triggered the recent interest in Europe and the United States on African affairs and politics.
Jennifer Cooke, Center for Strategic Studies and International Studies, Washington, did not agree with that opinion, rejecting it as an ill-defined fear. Instead, in her opinion, a more pragmatic analyst would accept China’s engagement in Africa as a healthy competition, saying that even China is interested in stability and development, at least in the long run. Even the US military presence in the Gulf of Guinea would only reflect a convergence of interests, since Africans are seriously concerned with illegal maritime fishing, arms trafficking, oil theft, just to mention some areas. And asked whether the US-Africa Command (AFRICOM) would increase tensions in the region, Jennifer Cooke maintained that there had been made so many mistakes in explaining what AFRICOM is all about, which raised all kinds of suspicion that it might be difficult to properly establish itself in an atmosphere of fear and ambiguity.
Listen (mp3): Jennifer Cooke
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