Controversial EU-Africa Summit Discusses Larger Occupation of the Central African Republic Violence
Apr 2, 2014 | Agency Staff
African and European leaders open crisis talks in Brussels on ‘terrifying’ violence in Central African Republic
BRUSSELS — African and European leaders opened crisis talks on Wednesday on the "terrifying" violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) where peacekeepers have been unable to stop a deadly spiral of Christian-Muslim strife.
As leaders of the two continents headed into Brussels for a mammoth summit locking down parts of Brussels, 13 European Union and 12 African leaders gathered for crisis talks on the situation in the CAR with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The UN chief is seeking endorsement from the Security Council for a 12,000-strong peacekeeping force to take over from the 8,000 African and French troops there.
South African President Jacob Zuma has pulled out of the main summit, accusing the EU of treating African leaders as "subjects" by seeking to decide who should attend. A government statement this week said International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane would lead a South African delegation. Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies would also participate.
On the eve of the summit, the EU finally launched a rare military mission to send 1,000 troops to the CAR, delayed by insufficient troop and aircraft commitments from the bloc’s 28 member states.
Mr Ban has warned the situation could spiral into genocide amid reports by the UN of child decapitations, cannibalism and widespread lynchings.
"We are deeply concerned of the desperate plight of the people of the CAR," he said. "At today’s meeting I will urge all countries to strongly consider providing badly needed additional troops and police and providing funding and support."
Illegal migration, trade and security problems and jihadist turmoil elsewhere in Africa will also be addressed at the two-day summit.
Gathering leaders of the 54-nation African Union and 28-member European bloc, the meeting officially opened at 12.30pm GMT and runs to Thursday.
Lingering tension
The summit comes more than three years after the martyred Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi hosted the last EU-Africa summit in Tripoli — somewhat sealing his fate at the hands of imperialism the following year.
As then, post-colonial and trade tension, as well as worries over China’s influence, is lingering.
The seizure of Gadaffi’s massive stocks of arms by mercenaries after the CIA-NATO-Pentagon war of regime-change is blamed in part for jihadist-linked unrest that has unravelled across vast swathes of Africa, notably in Mali and Niger.
The EU has waded in to help UN and African peacekeepers restore peace in those countries as well as in Somalia.
"I hope the summit will mark a new stage in our relationship with Africa," said EU council president Herman Van Rompuy. It is time for a "shift from development co-operation to a partnership of equals with trade and investment playing a key role", he added.
Another notable last-minute summit stay-away is Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, boycotting in protest against an EU refusal to suspend temporarily a visa ban on his wife.
The EU relaxed sanctions against Zimbabwe earlier this year but maintained a travel ban against 90-year-old Mr Mugabe and his wife for another year, while agreeing the veteran leader could attend international forums.
Also absent is Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, wanted by the International Criminal Court on genocide charges — another irritant in Europe-Africa relations, with some Africans complaining they should be left to judge themselves.
Trade has been another cause of tension as the two blocs struggle to agree on deals that would give Africa better access to EU markets while lifting African tariffs seen as a vital source of income to governments and a necessary way of protecting its fledgling industry.
Meanwhile, China has increased its penetration of Africa, while India, Brazil, Turkey and South Korea are all looking for opportunities as stability and growth improve.
"In just a few years Africa has become an attractive bride that can choose among several candidates," said analyst Geert Laporte, of the European Centre for Development Policy Management. But Europe "right now does not have a lot of sex appeal".
The EU continues to be Africa’s largest donor but is looking to switch from its historic role of providing assistance to a more dynamic one of investor.
"The need for investment in Africa is so huge that the more investment coming, the better," EU development commissioner Ndris Piebalgs said.
Though in the past five years Africa’s economy has grown faster than Asia’s, the continent remains mired in poverty with millions jobless and seeking to reach Europe’s shores in hopes of a better future.
Remittances, the cash sent home by migrant workers, in 2012 reached $60.4bn, becoming the continent’s largest source of foreign income.
A key issue at the summit will be illegal migration as the EU offers to open its borders to legal migrants, such as students and business people, in exchange for greater control by Africans of their own borders.
AFP
 |
| Chadian President Idriss Deby hugging President Herman Von Rompuy of the Council of Europe. |
African and European leaders open crisis talks in Brussels on ‘terrifying’ violence in Central African Republic
BRUSSELS — African and European leaders opened crisis talks on Wednesday on the "terrifying" violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) where peacekeepers have been unable to stop a deadly spiral of Christian-Muslim strife.
As leaders of the two continents headed into Brussels for a mammoth summit locking down parts of Brussels, 13 European Union and 12 African leaders gathered for crisis talks on the situation in the CAR with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The UN chief is seeking endorsement from the Security Council for a 12,000-strong peacekeeping force to take over from the 8,000 African and French troops there.
South African President Jacob Zuma has pulled out of the main summit, accusing the EU of treating African leaders as "subjects" by seeking to decide who should attend. A government statement this week said International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane would lead a South African delegation. Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies would also participate.
On the eve of the summit, the EU finally launched a rare military mission to send 1,000 troops to the CAR, delayed by insufficient troop and aircraft commitments from the bloc’s 28 member states.
Mr Ban has warned the situation could spiral into genocide amid reports by the UN of child decapitations, cannibalism and widespread lynchings.
"We are deeply concerned of the desperate plight of the people of the CAR," he said. "At today’s meeting I will urge all countries to strongly consider providing badly needed additional troops and police and providing funding and support."
Illegal migration, trade and security problems and jihadist turmoil elsewhere in Africa will also be addressed at the two-day summit.
Gathering leaders of the 54-nation African Union and 28-member European bloc, the meeting officially opened at 12.30pm GMT and runs to Thursday.
Lingering tension
The summit comes more than three years after the martyred Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi hosted the last EU-Africa summit in Tripoli — somewhat sealing his fate at the hands of imperialism the following year.
As then, post-colonial and trade tension, as well as worries over China’s influence, is lingering.
The seizure of Gadaffi’s massive stocks of arms by mercenaries after the CIA-NATO-Pentagon war of regime-change is blamed in part for jihadist-linked unrest that has unravelled across vast swathes of Africa, notably in Mali and Niger.
The EU has waded in to help UN and African peacekeepers restore peace in those countries as well as in Somalia.
"I hope the summit will mark a new stage in our relationship with Africa," said EU council president Herman Van Rompuy. It is time for a "shift from development co-operation to a partnership of equals with trade and investment playing a key role", he added.
Another notable last-minute summit stay-away is Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, boycotting in protest against an EU refusal to suspend temporarily a visa ban on his wife.
The EU relaxed sanctions against Zimbabwe earlier this year but maintained a travel ban against 90-year-old Mr Mugabe and his wife for another year, while agreeing the veteran leader could attend international forums.
Also absent is Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, wanted by the International Criminal Court on genocide charges — another irritant in Europe-Africa relations, with some Africans complaining they should be left to judge themselves.
Trade has been another cause of tension as the two blocs struggle to agree on deals that would give Africa better access to EU markets while lifting African tariffs seen as a vital source of income to governments and a necessary way of protecting its fledgling industry.
Meanwhile, China has increased its penetration of Africa, while India, Brazil, Turkey and South Korea are all looking for opportunities as stability and growth improve.
"In just a few years Africa has become an attractive bride that can choose among several candidates," said analyst Geert Laporte, of the European Centre for Development Policy Management. But Europe "right now does not have a lot of sex appeal".
The EU continues to be Africa’s largest donor but is looking to switch from its historic role of providing assistance to a more dynamic one of investor.
"The need for investment in Africa is so huge that the more investment coming, the better," EU development commissioner Ndris Piebalgs said.
Though in the past five years Africa’s economy has grown faster than Asia’s, the continent remains mired in poverty with millions jobless and seeking to reach Europe’s shores in hopes of a better future.
Remittances, the cash sent home by migrant workers, in 2012 reached $60.4bn, becoming the continent’s largest source of foreign income.
A key issue at the summit will be illegal migration as the EU offers to open its borders to legal migrants, such as students and business people, in exchange for greater control by Africans of their own borders.
AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment