Fight Back Africa – The Choking May Just Stop

Miles of well-wishers beaming with smiles and jubilations greeted Pope Francis, who, at 86, visited the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan as part of his worldwide consultation on the future of the Catholic Church -a synodal process that began in 2021 and will conclude in 2024.

The Pope echoed the cries of all Africans when he said, “Hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo! Hands off, Africa! “Pope Francis said. “Stop choking Africa. It is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered. May Africa be the protagonist of its own destiny.”. “May Africa be the protagonist of its own destiny”-true words were never spoken.  However, at this time, it is a safe bet to say neither the external forces which have historically plagued Africa nor the Africans are sure of how Africa can be the protagonist of its own destiny. 

No matter which side of history you land on, it is universal to state that 1960 was the year of Africa. Seventeen countries on the continent declared their independence starting with Ghana-once a beacon of hope for Africa. After the declaration of independence of various African countries, the question of what next remains a question. The relic of colonization continues to linger throughout the continent, while the evocation of supposed victory for the continent and black people around the world remains only a dream. The organizations of mass political movements across the continent, the stage of civil disobedience in defiance of European imperial rule, later emulated by the civil rights movements in the United States, continue to ring pride in the hearts of Africans. Yet today, everyone knows the story of a free and developed Africa that occurred as something else. It is as if the ancestors of the continent are turning in their graves and cursing the generation after them while questioning themselves -what went wrong?

Indeed, a foundation was laid for generations of Africans to be the protagonist of the continent’s destiny. So, what is this riddle that continues to be wrapped in a mystery, and how do Africans solve the riddle to become the protagonist of the destiny of the continent? 

Perhaps the best place to start is from home. From independence, what has been the state of leadership on the continent? Amidst betrayals, coup d’etat, and civil wars are interventions that have come in all forms of shapes to set the continent back in its development and stability.

The connection between good stewardship and development is self-evident. Certainly, for Africa to be the protagonist of its own destiny, its leaders and people must examine their stewardship. How have leaders and the African people managed the planning of the continent’s resources? Today, there is a global call to society at large to be good stewards of our planet, as our actions or inactions are essential to the survival of our planet. 

 It is not unfair to place the predicament of African countries on the relations between stewardship and African leaders and people because it is a significant factor. Africans endorse the labeling of the continent’s lack of development as a conundrum or the blame of external forces as the crux of the issues underlying the lack of development of the continent. We ignore that governance on the continent is abysmal, institutions are optional, and accountability is a strange word. Africans prefer to talk about ‘Africa Rising” at international gatherings to avoid looking in the mirror to discuss the peskier issues confronting the continent. Year after year, we keep talking because it makes us look like we are doing something while the pillaging of our resources continues.

So, the Holy Father is right to call on external forces to stop choking Africa. Still, it is unfair to lay it all on the externalities to say that foreign influences are the only hands on the throat of Africa-Africans have a choice. Africans had always had a choice-Africans have stood in defiance of imperialism before and fought for independence. So, there is no doubt that the call of the Holy Father, if heeded, will alleviate some of the pressures on the continent. But for Africa, the time for a decision has come. The continent can remain the world’s charity project or choose a way towards genuine self-determination. A path that includes accountability and good stewardship towards the preservation of resources for the next generation while providing a better today for the present generation and all the enemies that come with said progress.