Bondage of Boundaries and Identity Politics in Postcolonial Africa: The ëNorthern Problemí and Ethno-Futures

CHAPTER 18 - Pan-Africanism and African regional economic integration

323 Pan-Africanism and African regional economic integration Michael. O. Bonchuk INTRODUCTION The delineation of most of Africa’s international boundaries took place in the nineteenth century. The twentieth century provided an appropriate opportunity to reflect on the predominantly conflictual-laden African boundary regimes and suggest the alternative future of the boundaries as stimulants not of conflicts and wars, but of international cooperation and regional integration. The chapter is a critical reflection on the wide range of boundary potentials begging for policy exploration and application. It is argued that the adoption of ‘uti possedetis ’ principle of boundary maintenance by African leaders in 1963 Cairo Summit of Heads of States and Government froze African boundaries which created a ‘fortress mentality’, thereby negating the pan-African ideal of African unity. This reflection is undertaken in the context of a systematic comparison with European contemporary history and the lessons of experience with special reference to the factor of trans-boundary regionalism based on the evolution of the European Union (EU), and Europe of the regions ‘Euregios,’ in contradistinction to Europe of the nation-state. Regional economic integration predicated on African regions ‘Afregios,’ as a strand of the pan-African perspective is presented as a major way out of the deep and worsening economic crisis bedevilling African economies. By emphasising trans-boundary regionalism focused on historical linkages along and astride African borders, the boundary conflicts could be considerably reduced and the border regions converted to frontiers of opportunities. We reject the desperate attempts to fossilize Africa into the wounds inflicted upon it by the vultures of colonialism. Consequently, African leaders must address the problems of colonial boundaries through mutual understanding on fundamental issues. It is no use smoothening this problem with the verbiage of ‘Uti possedetis’ since it will always come back to haunt the continent as it has done in the past (Nsogura 1, 2003:3). CHAPTER 18 324 CHAPTER 18 Frontiers (i.e. borderlands) are indeed the razor edge on which hang suspended the modern issues of war or peace, of life and death for nations (Lord Curzon 1902: 23). Regional integration is widely acknowledged as a major way out of the deep and worsening political and economic crisis confronting postcolonial Africa. This explains why African countries have consistently pursued policies of regional cooperation and integration as a means of promoting socio-economic development and reduction of their dependence on the West. With regional cooperation and integration is the prospect of ensuring long-term sustainable socio-economic growth and development. This would enhance the reduction, if not total eradication of border conflicts between many an adjacent state through a systematic promotion of transfrontier regionalism ; focused on international cooperation. From 1960, many institutions for regional cooperation and integration were created and re-created at the levels of the entire continent and its constituent sub-regions. However, not much premium has been placed on the revision of the principle of ‘Uti possedetis’ adopted by African Heads of States and Government after independence. The primary aim of this chapter is to trace and analyse the principle of ‘Uti Possedetis’ as this applies to the African problematique. It is argued that the principle of ‘Uti possedetis’ or boundary maintenance, runs counter to the aspirations of regional economic cooperation and integration either at the continental or sub-regional levels. The exclusivist nature of these boundaries negates the concept of the African Economic Treaty of 1991, the AU and other sub-regional groupings. It is suggested that this principle be revised and the boundary regions converted from their conflictual barrier functions to bridges of cooperation and poles of integration. These ‘Afregios’ should be analysed and made to function as their counterpart ‘Euregios’ in the EU, and the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) where regional cooperation and integration projects are vigorously pursued and activity supported by the academic and research communities. The chapter highlights the similarities between European and African boundaries, the experience of ‘transfrontier regionalism’ in Western, Central and Eastern Europe as imaginative policy options for Africa, if the continent has to move away from the morass of border conflicts that often negate the momentum of economic cooperation and integration on the continent. By way of policy recommendations, the chapter concludes that in order to sustain the modest developments and ensure their acceleration and spread there must be a radical reorientation of the mind set of postcolonial Africa’s so called ‘inheritance elite.’ 325 PAN...