Why is Africa indecisive about its own problems?
Sep 08, 2011
The UN is warning that as many as 750,000 people could die in the coming months as Somalia’s drought worsens. But this is not new.
The UN is warning that as many as 750,000 people could die in the coming months as Somalia’s drought worsens. But this is not new.
It is also not new that the Islamist Al-Shabaab controlled areas are the worst hit, with their restrictions on aid workers’ ability to deliver the much needed aid. Closer to the areas that are AMISOM controlled, troops have to deal with severely malnourished children, to get them through life again.
Everybody knows that for every one of the Somali people to be helped, security must be strengthened. Africa knows that if AMISOM is supported with additional troops, then half the problem would be solved, yet total commitment remains lacking.
Instead, Somalia has been reduced to a theater of statistics and figures, a place where every camera man wants the best shots of dying children and war ravaged buildings, and an opportunity to make TV documentaries, with half the concern for those most in need.
With no shame then, only four African Heads of State attended the African Union Pledging conference in Ethiopia, to raise funds and aid for the people of Somalia who desperately need help, affected by what is now known as the worst drought in the Horn of African region for 60 years. After the conference, reports indicated the pledges are less than the minimum of $50m target. Uganda has already created the biggest impact by enabling situations for that aid to reach the people, assisting the transitional federal government to expand their areas of control. Drought situations not withstanding, AMISOM has opened possibilities that Somalia can be a functioning state again.
Maiden visits to Mogadishu by the British Development Secretary, the president of Djibouti, the prime minister of Turkey, all bringing along aid, would never have been possible without Uganda’s intervention.
Other African countries except Burundi have embarrassingly remained just potential troop contributing countries, years after they committed themselves, in a complete expose of the weaknesses and indecisiveness of Africa in finding ultimate solutions to African problems.
The writer works with Media Centre
It is also not new that the Islamist Al-Shabaab controlled areas are the worst hit, with their restrictions on aid workers’ ability to deliver the much needed aid. Closer to the areas that are AMISOM controlled, troops have to deal with severely malnourished children, to get them through life again.
Everybody knows that for every one of the Somali people to be helped, security must be strengthened. Africa knows that if AMISOM is supported with additional troops, then half the problem would be solved, yet total commitment remains lacking.
Instead, Somalia has been reduced to a theater of statistics and figures, a place where every camera man wants the best shots of dying children and war ravaged buildings, and an opportunity to make TV documentaries, with half the concern for those most in need.
With no shame then, only four African Heads of State attended the African Union Pledging conference in Ethiopia, to raise funds and aid for the people of Somalia who desperately need help, affected by what is now known as the worst drought in the Horn of African region for 60 years. After the conference, reports indicated the pledges are less than the minimum of $50m target. Uganda has already created the biggest impact by enabling situations for that aid to reach the people, assisting the transitional federal government to expand their areas of control. Drought situations not withstanding, AMISOM has opened possibilities that Somalia can be a functioning state again.
Maiden visits to Mogadishu by the British Development Secretary, the president of Djibouti, the prime minister of Turkey, all bringing along aid, would never have been possible without Uganda’s intervention.
Other African countries except Burundi have embarrassingly remained just potential troop contributing countries, years after they committed themselves, in a complete expose of the weaknesses and indecisiveness of Africa in finding ultimate solutions to African problems.
The writer works with Media Centre