Cape Town – Africans must stop blaming outsiders for the continent’s ills and unite to solve their own problems, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation,, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said today, echoing President Jacob Zuma’s call earlier this month for the setting up of a rapid deployment unit mooted by the AU.
“This is the time for Africans to provide African solutions for African problems - be it political, economic, [or] socio-economic for our development,” said Nkoana-Mashabane at a New Age Business Briefing at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
Nkoana-Mashabane said it was also encouraging that more than 10 African countries have volunteered to serve in the rapid deployment unit mooted by the African Union.
Such a rapid deployment unit could allow for the AU to send troops quickly to tackle any crisis on the continent.
“We shouldn’t be hamstrung and wait and just sit, like ducks, like what had happened in Mali. We knew what was happening in Mali was going to happen, with the fallout of Libya.
“We saw it when Timbuktu was taken over. Leaders in that region say that it took them 11 meetings in 11 months polishing the decision to intervene in Mali, until one day they woke up and the rebels were now marching towards Bamako. That shouldn’t have happened,” the minister said.
She refuted the perception by some in Africa that South Africa was a bully on the continent, pointing out that the country worked closely with other African countries to advance the cause of the continent.
“We champion collaboration, versus competition, so we work as one,” said Nkoana-Mashabane.
Resurgence of Africa
She also called on those in the African diaspora to contribute to the resurgence of Africa.
Those in the diaspora didn’t necessarily have to return to the continent, but could also contribute by investing in the continent or by encouraging trade with Africa or by getting involved in the AU’s heritage and legacy projects, she said.
She said US President Barrack Obama’s visit to South Africa next month was an indication of the country’s strategic importance for America.
South Africa saw the US as a partner in peace and security relations on the continent, she said, adding that the US’s strategy for Southern Africa shared similarities with that of South Africa’s approach to the region in its focus on ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Nkoana-Mashabane said trade and business relations between the two countries should continue, adding that there were now more than 600 US companies investing in South Africa.
She said South Africa stood ready to support the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to ensure durable peace there.
“No amount of military intervention would ever take political occasion within the country,” she said.
Speaking about the crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR), Nkoana-Mashabane said no rebel group should be allowed to overrun governments and undermine the sacrifices made towards democracy.
Africa cannot afford to have a failed state in the middle of the continent, she said.
Turning to last month’s Waterkloof landing incident of a Jet Airways chartered flight, she said South Africa’s strong historic ties with India were still in place.
“What happened at Waterkloof should never have happened,” she said.
She said after South Africa’s hosting of the Brics forum, her department was looking to have sectorial meetings, taking advantage of the declarations made at the Fifth Brics Forum in Durban in March.
South Africa was also looking at more ways of involving of civil society, labour unions and MPs in Brics sectorial meetings.
Nkoana-Mashabane said since 1994, South Africa had expanded the number of its embassies, consulates and representative offices from 34 to 126. – SAnews.gov.za
