Security and economic development in Africa today are more effectively achieved through regional formations than through the African Union. Discuss.
Introduction
The majority of African countries still lag behind Western states in achievement of similar economic development and power in the international relations. With the beginning of the twentieth century, the African states continued to take actions aimed to improve is economic growth and security protection in comparison to these systems in other countries. In this regard, it should be noted that several African countries stand to the position that these strategic objectives in the advancement of economic group and stability with the subsequent security of the state can be achieved through the unification of the capabilities of the countries. However, the opponents to this position believe that the African states should take of the national sovereignty and independence while the formation of the regional union and other organization will undermine the ability of the state to have own internal and external policy. Hence, the position as to the promotion of the power of the African countries in the world is more than just complicated process. Besides, in 1963 some states in this region has opted out for the foundation of the Organization of African Union. This formation was obliged to address challenges and issues arising before the countries of the African region so that to assist to the local countries in the transition to the new era of the economic and political development. Although, the Organization of African Union proves its incompetence in the promotion and protection of the interests of the Africa states so that in the beginning of the twenty-first century, this formation was replaced with new institution titles as the African Union. Beyond the primary functions of this formation, the leaders of the African states believed that the African Union will take care of the promotion of the economic development of the region in view of the maintenance of the high level of security of the countries. However, the role and importance of the African Union today is quite controversial issue today that requires deliberate assessment and analysis (Murithi and Muvumba Sellström, 2005).
Given the abovementioned statements, this essay will explore the role of the African Union in protection of the interests of the countries of African region in several dimension. In addition to this fact, the assay will address the contribution and role of the regional organization sin promotion of the security and economic development of the region in comparison to the capabilities of the African Union. In the end of the essay, it should be agreed that the regional formation should be properly appreciated by the countries of the African region for the protection of their interests. For the achievement of this purpose, the actions of the Economic Community of West African States will be considered in comparison with the position of the African Union during the crisis appearing in 2011 in African region. Consequently, the desire of the African states in achievement of better economic growth with the adoption of the free trade agreements will the considered in reference to the activity of the African Union in this dimension. As the outcome of the deliberate research, it should be established that the position of the African Union in the protection of the security of the region align with the maintenance of the economic development of the local states is quite strong regardless the fact that this formation is obliged to cope with the crisis happening on regular basis in this region.
Analysis of the Continental and Regional Formations and Their Functions
There are two primary approaches among scholars in the development of the African region. The first group of the followers of the positive development and growth of the African region stands to the position that foundation of the African Union was the remarkable step in the growth of the continent. The appearance of such formation revealed new opportunity for the countries of this continent to cope with the problems of the upcoming century. This means that the African Union took form of the proper organization of the management of the challenges that was not affordable for the previous formation. Consequently, the African countries have drafted and introduced the Constitutive Act that allowed for the local countries to delegate relevant powers to the leadership of the African Union to address security problems. Although, the availability of such legal act and appropriate regulatory environment pertaining to the activity of African Union proved that some implications were not taken into account. Namely, the states did not consider that the security and integrity of the country can be challenged with the right of the African Union to interfere in the affairs of the local states as members of the organization for resolution of particular matters (Bangura, 2008). Hence, it is quite important for the African Union to maintain balance between the necessity to comply with the principle of the international law as non-interference in the internal affairs of the country and realization of the functions of the organization in the protection of the interests of the local states against any threat. At the same time, the African Union succeeds in consideration of the legality of the changes made by the state bodies in the local states as the direct realization of the obligations pertaining to the protection of the security of the countries (Yihdego, 2011). With that, the nature of the functions and responsibilities of the African Union revealed that this formation has been designed for the resolution of the conflicts between the states on the extended scale as the interference in the internal affairs on behalf of the organization does not contribute to its status. Meanwhile, the current experience of the African Union shows its effectiveness on the regional scale as it regularly sends diplomatic missions to the vulnerable zones where the conflicts are ongoing. In this regard, it is possible to conclude that the African Union takes care of the general security strategy of the African Union while there is no personalization in the actions of this formation. In addition to the military functions and responsibilities, the African Union attempts to promote the interests of the African region in the relations with the developed nations that can contribute to the economic development of the region (Segell, 2011).
In contrast to the above-mentioned position, the opposing group of scholars stand to the opinion that the regional organizations are much efficient in the maintenance of security of the local states, their integrity and safety against external threats. This statement can be supported with the presence and role of the ECOWAS in the Western African region where the formation was focused on the resolution of the military issues. With that, the promotion of the security and other interests of the African states can be considered in reference to the evolution of African Union and its predecessor during fulfilment of the policy aimed on the satisfaction of the interests of the local countries. In contrast to the predecessor and its role in the governance of the foreign policy of African states, the African Union has been vested in with several crucial obligations and duties. In addition to the right to interfere in the internal policy of the country with the purpose to restore peace and stability in the region, the African Union has gained a legal opportunity to serve for the interests of the local counties in the formation of positive image at the international arena. In view of this statement one should keep in mind that one of the reasons of the creation of African Union was the desire of South Africa to foster flow of the foreign investment to the region (Moller, 2009). For these purposes, the creation of the regional security organization was regarded as reasonable step in this dimension. The African Union has believed to act in the manner so that to turn South Africa into the important trading centre in this region. With that, it should be noted that the previous formation in the African region was not effective enough. Three major countries of the African region fought with each other for the division of the power and interest. For example, the leader of Libya, Gadhafi was reaffirmed with the fact that he could achieve realization of his policy goals with the position of the head of the regional formation. The creation of the African Union should have been resolved the ongoing rivalry between these countries in favour of the implementation of common policy. Besides, it is quite hard to state about the effects of the activity of this organization as it started working in the beginning of this century (Cernohous and Kriz, 2014).
The promotion of the security and economic development is stable desire of the African states. Although, some individual states prefer to take care of the individual development of the state beyond working at the common objectives through the membership in the regional formation. The experience with the OAU showed that such countries as Nigeria, South Africa and Libya were driven with the desire to serve in the achievement of own interests with the help of the continental integration. In this regard, the creation of the African Union grounded on the desire of the leadership of the African states to remove permanent fight between the countries in acquiring position of the head of the organization. With the appearance of the African Union as the regional formation, several countries in the African region accepted the fact that this organization started to perform function of the useful and efficient mechanism for the advancement of the national interests and economic development of the local countries. Moreover, the cooperation of the states under the lieu of the African Union has appeared to be fruitful enough so that the African countries started to treat their obligations under the founding documents of the formation in serious way (Tieku, 2004).
Regardless the fact that the position the African Union in the advancement of the security interests of the African states and promotion of their economic growth is seemed to be stable, the role of this formation in comparison to such regional organization as ECOWAS during the Ivory Coast crisis should be considered. This event was taken as the example for the examination of powers and functions of two different formations in satisfaction of the interests of local states and their people during particular political situation. This event was taken as the basis for the determination of the role of the African Union and ECOWAS in satisfaction of the interests and needs of African people due to the fact that it involved several formations in pursuit of the most suitable solution to the appeared problem. After the termination of the presidential elections in the Ivory Coast, there was not exact decision on the legitimate basis for the presidency of Allassane Quattara. Hence, several organizations as the African Union, the United Nations, ECOWAS expressed their support and desire to restore peace in the region with the usage of the democratic principles (Arthur, 2010).
In contrast to the approach of the African Union in the resolution of the Ivory Coast crisis, the ECOWAS was guided with the provisions of the internal regulation on the conduction of the peace keeping missions in maintenance of peace and security within the countries as the members to the regional organization. This organization has proved its ability to cope with the crisis ongoing in the Ivory coast region by provision of the legal assistance to the candidates in the elections. The organization expressed its strong position in the consideration of the actions of all parties involved and decided to have personal policy on the resolution of the crisis. In this regard, the ECOWAS leadership took the decision to initiate close observance over the elections with the introduction of the negotiation procedures between the parties to the crisis so that to enhance proper conflict management as one of the key priority and function of this regional formation (Gwaza, n.d.). Regardless the fact that the resolution of the crisis in the Ivory Coast ended up with the military actions, the representatives of the ECOWAS took all possible actions so that to facilitate search of the mist appropriate solution for all parties involved. The presence of the ECOWAS and African Union in this situation proved that both organizations are guided by different factors in adoption decision on the fate of member states. As to the African Union, in the adoption of the decision on the resolution of particular situations, it follows the approach of the most powerful countries as the members. In reference to the position of ECOWAS on the same subject-matter, this regional formation was deprived of the counterweight so that the members have all relevant capabilities and resources to vote unanimously for the realization of certain decision in satisfaction of the interests of the region as the whole. In contrast, the approach of the African Union grounds on the receipt and allocation of the benefits. The perspectives in the receipt of particular economic benefits or other political objectives will become strong ground for the adoption of unanimous decision by the member states where the dominant countries will have more value in comparison to the position of the other members of the organization. Hence, the effectiveness of the African Union should be improved in this dimension so that to promote economic growth and their region and its political stability.
Conclusion
The analysis of the functions and activities of ECOWAS and African Union shows that these formations are different per se. The African Union is comprised of the poor countries with deficient management and absence of proper financial resources and other capabilities that can be used for the promotion of the interests of the interests of all countries as the members. Therefore, the existence of this formation is useful for such countries as the members of the African Union as Libya, Nigeria due to the availability of all necessary resources. In turn, the effectiveness of both regional formations in under question due to the existence of the limits in its regulations pertaining to the promotion of the policies adopted by the most developed members. Besides, the membership in the ECOWAS is much effective in the promotion of economic growth and competition of the countries in different countries in comparison to the same policy of the African Union. In fact, the later organization is featured with numerous technical and organizational flaws that should be removed. The withdrawal of these internal constraints will improve the effectiveness of the existence and activity of the organization in the African region. With that, both organizations are involved in the peacekeeping missions that is aligned with the necessity to stand for the protection of the security of the region. Therefore, the amendment of the structure of these regional organizations in reference to the adoption of the internal decision and policies will affect positively the advancement of security and economic growth on the regional scale by any type of this formations.
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