The Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs will host a seminar titled: Why Integration is the Wrong Agenda for Africa?
There is a need to critically discuss the limitations of the African integration agenda as set out in 1963 at the founding of Africa’s premier institution, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was to be re-organised in 2002 to the African Union (AU). Due to colonial remnants and Africa’s fragmentation, it continues to be manipulated, undermined and ignored in global decision-making, especially at the UN and its associated Bretton Woods institutions. Moreover, as a result of high tariffs and strict visa requirements intra-Africa, the passage of goods and people between borders continues to hinder trade and commerce that could foster unity across territories. Consequently, Africa’s citizens bear the brunt of irresponsible decisions made by their leaders and, wittingly or unwittingly, decisions made by leaders of other countries as well. The current AU rallying point is Agenda 2063, the year that will mark the centenary celebrations of the founding of Africa’s premier institution, which sought to realise Africa’s unity. Sadly, the African Unity dream is yet to be fully realised. While there are many wins and achievements that the OAU and the AU have brought in Africa, notably the successful fight against, and triumph over colonialism, it remains that Africa has a long way to go and the continent is yet to come together in meaningful ways.
The fundamental questions that the seminar gathers around and seeks to tease out are, inter alia:
Dr Chidochashe Nyere is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, University of South Africa. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Pretoria, where he also taught Academic Literacy and Political Science. Furthermore, he taught Pan-African Thought and Leadership (master’s level) and Conflict Resolution in Africa (honours level) at the University of Johannesburg. Dr Nyere’s research interests include African politics, academic literacies, decolonial thought, human rights law, international politics and Pan-African thought.
