Editor, RE: “We are ready for AU Summit – Mushikiwabo” (The New Times, June 8). Any organisation is as strong and effective as its weakest member, and there are far too many extremely dysfunctional states in Africa for our continental organisation to be really effective. And while we are at it, did you know France and Britain insist on participating fully in the deliberations of organs of the AU because they claim membership through their continued colonisation of territory on the continent, such as Reunion? In, addition, some African governments never take positions until Paris has given them marching orders. Africa’s continued dependency on foreign powers, and thus the lack of any real autonomy of action by too many of our countries, is itself an issue fit as a special AU Summit agenda, though I doubt even then it would find a satisfactory resolution given precisely that lack of real political autonomy by many of those who would be in attendance. And yet, until this structural weakness is resolved, the dysfunction will never end. But that is neither here nor there; our role as hosts in this instance is to welcome our fellow African guests, extending to them the kind of hospitality we are rightly renowned for. Mwene Kalinda ************************** You are right in every sense – there is no way Africa will become stronger and united when some of the members still receive marching orders from the western countries. It will always be difficult for AU to become effective with some of its member countries still seeking ‘guidance’ from their foreign ‘masters’ before taking any decision on issues African. But some member states deserve recognition for always struggling to make the organisation stronger despite all the challenges associated with some members’ perpetual dependence on foreign powers. Donna
