joint
mag 12
Perspectives on German-African futures
september 2010
Stronger ties:
Focus on
regional integration
Editors: Alexander Schwartz, Dennis Kumetat,
Linda Poppe Editorial Team: J. Bergmann,
M. Gatobu, L. Tsebe, B. Zasche, L. /Narib
AVAILABLE ONLINE:
www.bpb.de
CONTACT US:
goafrica@bpb.de
]
in this issue
3 Editorial
4 News from the BpB
]
joint
mag 12
Perspectives on German-African futures
partnerships
SADC – The African
Union’s Stronghold
5 sustainable
6 Regional Integration in Europe and Africa
8
East African Integration: Achievement
and Challenges thus far
10 The EU’s Policy towards Africa
How does the “Newcomer” China Fit In?
THE JM TEAM
EDITORS: Alexander Schwartz, Dennis Kumetat, Linda Poppe // Editorial Team: J. Bergmann, M. Gatobu, L. Tsebe, B. Zasche
LAYOUT & DESIGN: Leitago /Narib
COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Leitago /Narib
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EDITORIAL
]]
Letter from the Editors
EAC, SADC, ECOWAS, EU?!? These are not mere acronyms, behind
these letters are regional unions. According to Wikipedia, regional integration is a process in which states enter into a regional agreement in
order to enhance regional cooperation through regional institutions and
rules. Still, what does that mean?
“Go Africa. Go Germany” Alumni and experts explore regional integration in this issue of the JointMag. Eugene Pacelli sheds light on the
achievements of the East African Community before turning to the challenges that lie ahead. Kai Striebinger and Isaac Owuso answered my
questions on their perception of the European Union and the Economic
Community Of West African States and Martin Hofmann writes about
the Southern African Development Community. Last but not least, you
will find an article by Anna Stahl that takes a look at the policy of the
European Union towards Africa and how China’s engagement fits in.
I had the pleasure to be the guest editor for this issue and enjoyed working with all the contributors. All the best to the editorial team, Linda,
Dennis and Alexander for upcoming issues of the JointMag.
Please enjoy reading this issue!
CALL
issue # 11
Ilka Ritter
guest editor
FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Much has been written about corruption and its evils and benefits. In the October issue of JointMAG, we will look at the measures currently under way to in Germany and
African states to tackle the problems associated with it.
Deadline for contributions is October 20th 2010. Please send and email to one of the
editors or to goafrica@bpb.de to express your interest in a contribution.
jm 3
joint mag ] SEPTEMBER 2010
News
from the BpB #1
]
The JointMag wants to keep you updated on the current developments regarding the planned German-African Foundation for Youth Education (GAFYE), the Go Africa Go Germany
Association and the exchange program. We will establish a
regular info box in each issue which shall give you a general
idea of what is going on. If you are interested in details you
can contact Lan (lan@briefhansa.de) or Kai (kaistriebinger@
aol.com) for more information.
Exchange programs
))Lan Boehm
))Kai Striebinger
tion once more. Now all necessary documents were
handed in for registration in Potsdam, Germany. Once
the association is registered it will be possible to hire
some extra staff to help organize the 5th and 6th exchange program and other German-African projects.
German African Foundation for Youth Education
At the moment Katja and Holger are having talks with
the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Federal Foreign Office, trying to foster
support and find funding for the planned GAFYE and
the Go Africa Go Germany Association. However, nothing is tangible yet.
As you read this, the 4th generation of Go Africa Go
Germany scholarship holders just returned home from
their trip around Germany, while the BpB-staff is not
only already planning the African part of the program,
but working towards a lot of other opportunities to
keep the GAGG-network alive. The necessary funding
provided, the 5th round of GAGG is planned to go to
Kenya and Rwanda, while a 6th exchange would be destined to go to francophone Africa.
The next meeting of all GAGG alumni is planned to take
place from 28.-31.07.2011. Save the date! All alumni shall
Also, the German-African Business Association wants participate with their ideas to conception and content
to cooperate with the BpB and the Federal Ministry for of the meeting - a possible topic could be „What is civic
Economic Cooperation and Development and realize education?“. Another idea is to train interested alumni
an exchange project called „Startup Africa“.
to become „peers“ and enable them to plan projects
for GAFYE. A first peer teaching unit could take place
subsequently to the alumni meeting.
Alumni Network
sustainable partnerships
Go Africa Go Germany Association
As you all know the Go Africa Go Germany Association was founded in October last year. The goal was
to have an organization to apply for public funding and
which could work as an intermediate structure until the
GAFYE is established. At the June-Meeting in Nümbrecht the founding members had to change the constitu-
jm 4
joint mag ] SEPTEMBER 2010
At the June-Meeting in Nümbrecht the alumni decided to set up an own association which would allow all
scholarship holders to network, plan own projects or
discuss ideas for the GAFYE in an organized manner. A
group of alumni drafted a constitution, which is open
for your comments and is currently adapted.
SADC
The African Union’s Stronghold
))Martin E. Hofmann
Southern Africa proofs that regional cooperation and integration can significantly contribute to peace, security, development and much more. Recent dynamics in the subregion can be saluted. In particular, the resource sector
showcases the diplomatic achievements of past years. The
practiced multilateral management of energy and water resources can serve as a model for other regions in the world.
Since the foundation of SADC in the 90s, the region
hasn’t seen any violent inter-state conflict. Social and
economic indicators largely show positive trends.
Trans-frontier conservation areas are established. Some
of them are larger in space then individual countries of
the European Union. The security of energy supply is
managed by a complex multilateral energy regime. Joint
bi- and multilateral investments boost the region’s infrastructure. Transport corridors and power transmission
networks are set-up jointly. Cooperation of police and
intelligence services are as close as never before. Market integration advances and the creation of a custom
union will be finalized within the upcoming years.
In 2002, the African Union (AU) was founded as a successor of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
The AU aims at unifying 53 countries with more than
2000 different languages and many different political,
social and economic systems. This pan-African effort is
unthinkable without the indispensable support of subregional organizations. These form the building blocks
Many of these positive achievements can be attributof African unity.
ed to SADC’s diplomatic aptitudes. While applauding
15 southern African countries form the “southern SADC for its achievements, a lot remains to be done.
block” of the AU. Within few years only, the Southern Only a strong SADC will be able to curtail present and
African Development Community (SADC) created for future sub-regional and regional challenges.
instance a regime that manages trans-boundary water ing is tangible yet.
resources at the most modern level. The multilateral
legal frameworks count as the most advanced water
governance structure globally. Only a decade ago many
scholars saw water wars as the most likely and imminent conflict scenario for southern Africa. This seems
very unlikely by now.
In water commissions potential disputes are being identified, discussed and then solved on both technical and
political levels. If needed, a tribunal chips in. For worst
case-scenarios a sub-regional military stand-by force
would be ready to secure peace. The intervention mandates go partly even beyond those of the United Nations.
About the author:
Martin Hofmann
is currently working for UNDP in Haiti. Previously, he
was working for UNESCO in Angola and Namibia.
Since 2006, Martin is one of the young leaders of Horst
Köhler’s initiative “Partnership with Africa”.
jm 5
joint mag ] SEPTEMBER 2010
]
Regional Integration in Europe and Africa
interview by ))Ilka Ritter
))Isaac Owusu
Ilka: Dear Kai, dear Isaac, thanks for you willing-
ness to contribute to our interview about the European Union (EU) and the Economic Commission of
West African States (ECOWAS)! Maybe to start off, you
can tell us who you are, where you are from, what you
do and from which generation of the Go Germany Go
Africa Program you are?
Kai: I have participated in the GAGG-Program
))Kai Striebinger
are. For example, the regional decisions stipulate
how elections should be conducted, how a Member
State should be organized and the Mediation and
Security Council can even mandate the ECOWAS
Standby Force to intervene militarily in a Member
State without the agreement of that State. I wonder however whether a lot of people in the Member
States care about these prescriptions - if ECOWAS is
just another “paper tiger”...
of last year. That means I was in the third generation. We went to Ghana and Nigeria in Spring 2010.
The European Union has been one of
Currently, I am studying political science in Berlin. I the best and well organized regional bodies ever.
am writing my Master thesis on regional integration With well laid down structures and procedures of
in West Africa.
implementations of decisions and proposed projects makes it one of the best. However, one must
Just like Kai, I was part of the third gener- be cautious in comparing the two different regional
ation of GAGG. I have a Bachelors in Political Science bodies, that is ECOWAS and the EU. The former beand History from the University of Ghana. Currently, ing a loose organization of ‘so-called’ independent
I am completing my compulsory National Service West African States, better still mere ‘talking drums’
with the National Commission for Civic Education.
without clear convictions. Whiles the latter being
an organized continental body with functioning
I would like to begin with both of you shortly summarizing your impression of the other’s regional structures.Accessing the performances of these
two bodies brings out a clear distinction between
integration body, its work and its impact.
the two.The EU is more purposeful, democratic with
When I first started to deal with regional strong commitment from member states with a
organizations, I always had in mind the European great sense of belongingness .
Union as a highly developed body. But then I got to
Kai, do you agree that there is a great sense
know ECOWAS where political and military integraof belogningness among the Germans? Isaac, do you
tion are a lot more advanced than in the EU. I was
agree with Kai’s view on the functioning of ECOWAS?
really surprised how detailed their prescriptions
Isaac:
Isaac:
Ilka:
Kai:
Ilka:
jm 6
joint mag ] SEPTEMBER 2010
Kai: First, let me react to what Isaay said: I think
man chancellor did not act to increase Europe’s role
but tried to defend German so called “national interthat ECOWAS has all the attributes of a supranation- ests”. Even though for a longtime, the EU has been
al organization. After all, the ECOWAS Court of Jus- part of that interest.
tice came into being and it can even adress individI do not completely disagree with Kai
ual complaints about Human Rights violations and
whose decisions are directly applicable in Member on the functioning of the ECOWAS. ECOWAS viewed
States. The ECOWAS Parliament has been founded - from afar looks very attractive but very deceptive in
even though it only has advisory powers - and the terms of its functions when one gets closer to it. Yes,
Authority of Heads of State and Government can the institutions are well set up but hardly do they
take directly binding decisions. What do you mean actually function. One will not be far from wrong in
arguing for the fact that ECOWAS as a sub-regional
by ““so-called” independent West African States”?
body lacks the kind of commitment and zeal in its
I would agree that the EU is more democratic. The functions. On the issue of sense of belongineness,
parliamentarians are, for example, directly elected. it will interest you to note that many West African
But this only happened in 1979 for the first time. And
leaders view ECOWAS as a self imposed concept for
at that point, they did not have a lot of powers. But
I think we have to differentiate between the bodies which they had been forced into and therefore are
of the regional organziation and the member states. less committed to many of the agreements and proThe average level of democracy of EU Member States tocols.
is probably higher than that of ECOWAS Member
During the Go Africa Go Germany visit, you
States. But still, there is Italy and Romania for examhad
the
chance
to discuss ECOWAS and the European
ple...
Union with both academics and among the particiRegarding the feeling of belongingness, I doubt that pants. Were you surprised by some of the views and
it exists. The EU has been an elite project for a long if so, why?
time. The European Commission and other institutions always try to narrow the gap between the EU
As can be already gathered from what
and its citizens, but I doubt that they are very suc- has been said, you have to be really careful when
cessful. German politicians actively work against it as assessing ECOWAS that you do not confuse legal
well. When you look at the European elections for
documents with reality. That was an important lesexample, the parties mostly campaign with national
topics. And often decisions agreed upon in Brussels son I learned.
Isaac:
Ilka:
Kai:
Ilka:
sustainable partnerships
are critizised on the national level. During the last
crises, you could observe how Angela Merkel as Ger-
Thank you both for your answers.
jm 7
joint mag ] SEPTEMBER 2010
EAC
EA Integration: achievements and
challenges
))Eugene Pacelli
The East African Community’s (EAC) institutions are
almost a mirror image of the European Union’s (EU)
bodies. It has a Council of Ministers with a rotating
Presidency which issues regulations, directives and recommendations. These are scrutinized by a Parliament,
interpreted by a Court and enforced by an Executive.
However, unlike its European counterpart, the EAC
hasn’t drawn the line at a monetary union. By 2013, its
members plan to form what Europe’s founding father,
Jean Monnet, aspired to but did not achieve - a political
federation. Ceding influence to a President and Parliament in Arusha - the Brussels of East Africa - is a bold
step by member states whose relations have rarely
been smooth.
Achievements
The most important achievement was the establishment
of the EAC Custom Union. The Custom Union Protocol came into effect on January 1, 2005. According to
EAC Protocol on the Establishment of the East African
Community Customs Union, the Custom Union Protocol requires that Kenya eliminate its tariffs on imports
originating in Tanzania and Uganda respectively with immediate effect. However, charges of gradually declining
taxes remain for 859 products originating from Kenya
and exported to Tanzania and 426 products originating from Kenya and exported to Uganda, based on the
asymmetry principle. These taxes started to gradually
decline from 5% in 2005 and have almost reached 0% in
2010. Apart from the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff
barriers among partner states, the Custom Union Protocol establishes three bands of Common External Tariff on imports originating from third countries depending on the level of processing. Under Customs Union
arrangements, goods produced within the EAC move
across the border of partner states without taxation
provided they qualify under rules of origin. In the future,
the implementation of the Custom Union Protocol will
result in increased intra-trade among partner states,
increased competition that will increase consumer’s
choice, reduction of costs, and attraction of foreign direct investments.
There have been developments designed to foster the
feeling of integration among the people of the EAC and
to facilitate an East African identity. These have included
the introduction of the East African Community flag,
the launching of an East African anthem and the East
African passport.The holder of an East African passport
can enter any East African country for a period of six
months without the need to stamp his/her passport. It
is a document valid for travel only within the countries
of the East African community and allows the holder a
multi-entry, renewable, stay of up to six months in any
of the three partner states.
Steps toward the harmonization of monetary and fiscal policies have included convertibility of the partner
states’ currencies, harmonization of banking rules and
regulations, harmonization of Finance Ministries’ preand post-budget consultations, regular sharing of information on budgets, and reading of budget statements
on the same day. In capital markets, there have been
changes in the policies and trading practices and regulations in the three stock exchanges. The committee for
the Establishment of Capital Markets Development that
oversees development of the capital markets in the East
African Community aims to develop East African Community Capital Markets including managing cross-listing
of stocks.
sustainable partnerships
jm 8
joint mag ] SEPTEMBER 2010
A Tripartite Agreement on Road Transport has been
ratified by partner states. The main objectives of the
agreement are to facilitate interstate road transport
through reduced documentation for crews and vehicles
at border crossing, harmonized requirements for operation licensing and customs and immigration regulations, among others. In order to fast-track decisions on
transport and communications, the EAC established
the Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications
and Meteorology. The East African Road Network
Project is currently working to improve East African
Infrastructure.
Challenges facing East African integration
The challenges facing the new East African Community include economic, global, political, social and
those concerning financial resources.The East African
Community exists in the world of global competition.
In order to withstand the challenges of globalization,
the EAC needs to unite and participate in the World
Trade Organization negotiations as a block, participate in European Union trade arrangements as a
single trading block, and take advantage of the United
States of America - African Growth and Opportunity
Act and the European Union initiatives of Everything
but Arms. Deliberate efforts must be directed at reducing the cost of doing business, ensure availability
of business services, and improve EAC infrastructure.
Improving the performance of major ports, and the
East Africa Road Network and East Africa Railway
Network are key challenges facing the East African
Community.
be noted that not all East African countries are under
total democratic rule. In Rwanda and Uganda, there
are autocratic regimes- not to mention rebels fighting them and Kenya’s tribal animosity. So shall this
be ignored, peaceful countries like Tanzania will never
blindly consent to this easily. This is a challenge that
individual countries need to address so as to forge a
way forward.
Conclusions
The decision for re-establishing the East African
Community is a right decision taken at the right time.
It is a right decision that will enable East African partner states to withstand the forces of globalization,
provide an enabling environment for attracting foreign direct investments, create a large market of over
90 million people, remove barriers and obstacles of
trade within the East African Community, reduce the
cost of doing business in East Africa, and eventually
improve the standard of living for East Africans. However, establishing the East African Community cooperation alone is not a panacea and requires deliberate
efforts to avoid the collapse of the new East African
Community, as happened to the previous East African
Community. All the partner states must start thinking
as East Africans and stop thinking as individual naThe sustainability of the East African Community and tions in order to address economic, global, social and
the achievement of a political federation will depend financial resource challenges for the survival of the
on a level of political goodwill. That is why there is community.
a need for sustaining political goodwill and public
support. It is good to note that currently all partner
states believe in market-driven policies, good governance and rule of law. These factors help to shape
Eugene Pacelli
common political ground that will help in shaping ecois
from
Uganda.
He
is
a
lawyer
and
currently
works
nomic, political and social integration and eventually
the establishment of a political federation. It should for the Uganda Law Reform Commission in Kampala.
His interest lies in legal reforms.
About the author:
jm 9
joint mag ] SEPTEMBER 2010
EU
The EU’s Policy
towards Africa
How does the “Newcomer” China Fit In?
))Anna Katharina Stahl
Since its creation, the European Community (EC) has
established a structured relationship with the countries
of Sub-Saharan Africa. Due to French pressure, African
colonies were given association status already in the
Treaty of Rome. Later in the 1960s, when many African
colonies became independent states, the EC established
a special framework of cooperation with the countries
from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific
(ACP group) and signed a series of privileged agreements with them (the Yaoundé Conventions, the Lomé
Conventions and the Cotonou Convention).
The countries of Sub-Saharan Africa being only one
part of the African continent the EC is engaged with
the other countries of the African continent through
other frameworks than the ACP Conventions. South
Africa has a particular position as it is a member of the
ACP group, but has also signed a bilateral Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement with the EC and
the countries of Northern Africa have been included in
the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
In parallel to the European policies targeting different
regions of the African continent, there have been atThe EC holds economic and political links with Sub- tempts to establish a common European framework
Saharan Africa mainly through aid and trade privileges, of cooperation with the whole African continent. This
setting up the European Development Fund (EDF) as change has been reinforced by the creation of the Afa particular instrument of financial assistance for ACP rican Union in 2002 as a natural partner of the EU. In
countries. The EU’s development policy towards Africa October 2005 the European Commission adopted its
is characterized by the principle of political condition- first common European Africa Strategy, which was folality, linking development aid to the respect of human lowed by the initiative of the Portuguese EU presidency
rights, democracy and good governance. Starting with to organize a second EU-Africa summit in December
the Lomé IV Convention (Art. 366a) the EC has in- 2007 in order to agree on a Joint Africa-EU Strategy.
troduced democracy, rule of law and human rights as
essential elements in its Conventions with the ACP These two events have underlined a change in the EUcountries, which means that those countries that don’t Africa relation. European and African partners are now
comply with this essential clause risk the suspension of discussing an increasing number of political and ecoaid and other sanctions.
nomic issues of common interests. The former European Commissioner for development and humanitarian
Through the different conventions the EC has also built aid, Louis Michel, has stressed at several occasions that
a trade regime granting products from ACP countries Africa is no longer seen as a burden for Europe but as
a non-reciprocal, preferential access to the European an opportunity.
market. These trade preferences have however eroded
over time, mainly due to the pressure from the World This renewed European focus on the African continent
Trade Organization (WTO), which considered the should be placed in the context of a growing interest
system as incompatible with WTO law. The Cotonou of emerging international actors like China, India and
Agreement marked the beginning of the transforma- Brazil in Africa. In particular China’s growing internation from a non-reciprocal arrangement into recipro- tional presence is leading to a geopolitical change in
cal free trade agreements, by introducing the so-called Africa. Only one year after Brussels issued its EuroEconomic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
pean African Strategy also Beijing adopted an African
Policy White Paper. In the same year Chinese leaders
sustainable partnerships
jm 10
joint mag ] SEPTEMBER 2010
organized the third and most impressive ministerial
summit at the Forum on China-Africa-Cooperation
in Beijing.This was the biggest diplomatic event in the
history of the People’s Republic of China and considered to be a blow for the EU, as China had succeeded
in organising such an extraordinary event with Africa,
where the EU had failed to do so when intending to
organize a second EU-Africa summit in 2003.
eration. Until recently the European reaction to the
Chinese policy in Africa was characterised by criticism and unsuccessful attempts to contain the Chinese presence. Slowly however a consensus emerged
at EU-level to adopt a different tone towards China,
favouring engagement over confrontation and proposing in October 2008 a “trilateral EU, Africa and
China cooperation”. The main objective of this new
type of collaboration is to involve Africans as equal
China’s relationship with the African continent is very partners in international discussions related to the
different from that of Europe. The common percep- future of the continent. The EU has proposed four
tion of China as a “new actor” in Africa is misleading. particular fields for trilateral cooperation with Africa
Although China, like many European countries, does and China, namely: peace and security, support for
not share a colonial past with Africa, China and Af- African infrastructure, sustainable management of the
rica have developed historical relations over many environment and natural resources, agriculture and
centuries. The modern Sino-African relations have food security.
emerged in the context of the “Third World” movement during the Cold War, bringing together coun- A crucial question is however whether Africa can betries from the South that suffered from foreign oc- come an equal partner to the EU and China in such
cupation and colonialism.Today China is redefining its a “trilateral cooperation”. In both the EU-Africa and
role in the international order and is re-engaging in the China-Africa relationships, Africa has always been
Africa at a much bigger scale than before. Contrary rather passive, as the main inputs have come from its
to the previous era, the current Chinese leaders are partners. For the moment it is thus too early to say
looking at Africa mainly for economic rather than for whether this new European initiative of a “trilateral
political reasons. In only a short period of time, China partnership” presents also the best option of the Afhas become after the EU and the US the third largest rican continent.
trading partner of Africa. In 2000 Chinese authorities
have established a special body for Sino-African cooperation, the Forum on China-Africa-Cooperation
(FOCAC) providing a platform for dialogue and exchange between China and the 49 African states with
which China has diplomatic relations.
Considering the challenges of China’s re-engagement
in Africa, a fundamental question is how the EU as a
traditional player in Africa is reacting to the end of
its monopoly on the continent, with China presenting an economic and political alternative for coop-
About the author: Anna Katharina
Stahl is a Ph.D. student at the Institute for European
Studies of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) doing
research on the Chinese presence in Africa and its
implications for the EU’s relations with the continent.
jm 11
joint mag ] SEPTEMBER 2010
joint
mag
Perspectives on German-African futures
Website:
www.bpb.de
e-mail address:
goafrica@bpb.de
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