Issue 1/ 2009
September
Letter from the Editors
Welcome to the first issue of Joint
MAG! This small magazine is a
platform that aims to address your
interests and reflect your input. A
joint production of African and
German contributors, it is also a
hint of what a true
partnership
could be about.
On a monthly basis, Joint MAG will
provide insights into topics relevant
to Germany and/or Africa. It will
include a selection of opportunities,
relevant news to deliver and the
latest on the Go Africa... Go
Germany Network and its members.
In this issue, you can read about
the third Go Africa... Go Germany
programme, the former scholarship
holder Tracy Jooste, and two key
political
figures
of
regional
cooperation in Africa.
We truly hope you will enjoy
reading Joint MAG! Thanks in
particular
to
Julian
Bergmann,
Mwenda Gatobu, Lerato Tsebe and
Benjamin Zasche – members of the
editorial
team
–
and
the
Bundeszentrale
für
politische
Bildung that has made this first
issue possible!
Best,
Dennis Kumetat and Linda Poppe
Content
Go Africa Go Germany News.......page 1
Tools and Opportunities .............page 2
African Integration Figures .........page 2
Scholarship Holder Profile ..........page 4
Imprint ...................................page 5
JOINT M
A
G
frica
Go Africa... Go Germany News
Impressions from the
3rd Generation
ermany
by Benjamin Zasche, Germany
Munich, the head office of Bayerischer Rundfunk, a big
regional public TV station in Southern Germany. One of
the dog days of summer. When approaching a group of
students between 21 and 28 years of age, I sense the
voice of a German journalist presenting some basic facts
about the institution. His lecture is accompanied by a
gentle female British-English-speaking voice belonging to
Interpretor Mrs. Brinkmann. Headphones. The well-known
faces of a diligent organizing
the spirit of the
team
keeping
the
place
new
programme is
running behind the scenes.
in the air
No doubt the spirit of a new
bpb programme is in the air.
Kick-off was on August 17th at Seeon monastry in the
very Southeast of Germany, the same place where the
second generation started in 2008. This location allows
the 24 sholarship holders from Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Germany to
get used to each other and to the basic conditions of the
project before they are exposed to the multiplicity of
different impressions. The agenda of the German part is
as dense as usual - but in some aspects it differs again
from the past ones. On the one hand, it has to correspond
to the specific themes that will be dealt with in the second
part of the programme, leading the group to Ghana and
Nigeria in March 2010. Therefore, topics such as the
coexistence of different religions or different ethnic groups
can be found on the schedule. On the other hand, this
edition of the programme takes into account the aim of
producing a new common paper. This time it will deal with
youth cultures in Germany and Western Africa and the
particular demographic challenges in both regions. Since
this is the last edition of the GoAfrica...Go Germany
exchange, the overall result draws nearer.
continued on page 2
Impressions
continued
from
the
3rd
Generation
The three policy papers developed over the
past three years will hopefully form strong
intellectual ground for the creation of a
German-African Youth Education Foundation.
Thus, its success will at some point depend
on the input of almost 75 sholarship holders.
The tour through the broadcasting station
delivers
a
well-balanced
mixture
of
information. Everday life-impressions and
facts worth knowing about German media
landscape and its broadcasting system
alternate with a group discussion on the
question of whether the daily normality of
migration is a neglected topic in German
media production. A proved and tested
conception that favores active participation
and plasticity of contents.
So much for a brief overview. If there is one
message that could be brought to the 3rd
generation by an alumni, mine would be:
Think twice before you catch some hours of
sleep instead of spending a night waking with
your fellow participants. Do not hesitate to
ask ANY question you might have. Enjoy your
time. Wish you all the best! ▪
Tools and Opportunities
Information Service on Africa seeks Researchers
The service, currently being established, shall
enable European customers to obtain fast and
cheap access to divers information on African
states. Therefore a wide network of co-operators
throughout the African continent shall be
established with which divers empirical data can
be collected quickly upon request by the
customers. The service is seeking young
graduates especially from southern, eastern and
central Africa. Further information and a jobdescription can be obtained by sending a short
message
to
the
following
email-address:
recherche-afrika@gmx.de
Africa Virtual Library on the Internet
Finding relevant literature on a specific African
topic or country – this is possible with the
“internet library sub-saharan Africa” (ilissAfrica),
which is now online and accessible to everyone.
Users can search for books, anthologies, journal
articles
and
Internet
resources
at
www.ilissafrica.de. They are then led directly to
the corresponding website or shown at which
library the book or journal article can be found.
African Integration Figures: Muammar Gaddafi and Abdoulaye Wade
by Mwenda Gatobu, Kenya
Of late, two figures have been advocating for a United States of Africa with zeal and zest:
Presidents Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. The United States of Africa
is the name proposed for the concept of a federation of the 53 sovereign states on the African
continent, with a combined population of 992 million.
Senegal’s Wade is pushing hard for a United States of Africa. In my opinion, this
is a good dream, on several grounds: the 1884-1885 Berlin Conference that
carved Africa into different protectorates was not even clandestinely intended to
ease administration of the vast continent but purely reduce it into spheres of
control. During the time of this infamous demarcation, African communities and
kingdoms were not represented.
Sovereignty
In his Inaugural Speech on 2nd February, 2009 Gaddafi said as the Chairman of the African Union:
“I shall continue to insist that our sovereign countries work to achieve the United States of Africa.”
But is he the right person to mend the rifts that have for years pulled a continent so diverse in
virtually all realms of life a part every single day?
continued on page 3
For Gaddafi, at the helm of obstacles is the absence of an all inclusive African Union that would
have given (him) an offshoot base. Several African countries are either not members of AU or
have been suspended. Morocco for instance ceased its membership in 1984, when it appeared that
most member countries supported Western Sahara, and its subsequent admission to the then
Organization of Africa Unity (OAU). Guinea was suspended after a junta led by Capt Moussa Dadis
Camara in December 2008, Madagascar is equally not a member, and also Eritrea suspended itself.
Gaddafi has recently aligned himself with the Arab world and he himself is a strong supporter of
Islam, in a continent with myriads of religious believes that many people profess. Before he
attended the AU summit, Gaddafi circulated a letter which
Abdoulaye Wade (born May 29,
said that he was attending the summit as the traditional
1926) is the third and current
king of Africa. Many perceive him as anti-change,
Senegalese President, in office
reactionary and above all a mistrusted individual.
since 2000. He is also the
Secretary-General
of
the
By becoming an ambassador of traditional leadership,
Senegalese
Democratic
Party
Gaddafi, to me, cannot be accommodated in the 21st
(SDP) and has led the party
century. His models to anchor African countries as a region
since it was founded in 1974. A
and a union of different states stand on a shaky foundation
long-time opposition leader, he
that cannot stand the test of time. In a nutshell, Gaddafi’s
ran for President four times,
leadership record does not foretell an ideal African Union.
beginning in 1978, before he
Such a union is vulnerable to curtailing freedom of
was elected in 2000.
expression and other fundamental human rights, since the
inception of such a union is borne of a political
megalomaniac who has ruled his country with an iron fist
for over 40 years. He has never run an election, yet
camouflages in peace as a “good leader”.
Born on 7th June 1942,
Muammar Gaddafi led a small
group of army officials (at 27
years) into a coup d’état and
ultimately ousted King Idris.
He has ruled Libya since 1969.
President Wade, on his behalf, asserted that “in order to
protect sovereign independence and be heard in the
international political order, Africa must become a viable
economic power” within the framework of a United States of Africa. Stating this, Wade echoed
Mwalimu Nyerere’s emphasis on seeing Africans as one family "united beyond borders".
Suggestions
Gaddafi has proposed “a single African military force, a single currency and a single passport for
Africans to move freely around the continent” - three suggestions that so far remain only distant
visions. On the other hand, Wade has proposed that a committee of African intellectuals should be
established to fast track the concept of a United States of Africa. Leading African scholars like the
University of Lagos’s Prof. Victor Adetulla have welcomed this proposition. President Wade has
called on each African country to put aside 20 per cent of its annual budget to create an “African
External Reserve Fund” that would back a common African currency. His warning that Africans
should force their leaders to “get out of the sovereignty trap” is eminently wise.
Wade has indicated that a United States of Africa may exist from as early as 2017 in a
rudimentary form. The AU, by contrast, only envisions a “united and integrated " Africa by 2025.
Gaddafi has also indicated that the proposed Federation may extend as far west as the Caribbean:
Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic, and other islands featuring a large African Diaspora
may be invited to join.
Thus, the attractive idea of an independent, strong African unity remains elusive and a date of its
realization vague. Major conceptual work and political initiatives will need to be put into force in
order for this desirable aim to become reality one day. ▪
Scholarship Holder Profiles
Interview with Tracy Jooste, South Africa
by Julian Bergmann, Germany
Tracy Jooste, is a scholarship holder of the Go Africa…Go Germany program 2007 which took the
participants to a four week-long trip to Germany, Belgium and Namibia. Tracy was born and
currently resides in Cape Town, South Africa. After her undergraduate studies in Economics and
Politics, Tracy completed a Masters in Public Policy at the University of Cape Town in 2005. Since
2006, she has been working as a consultant at Palmer Development Group, a management
consultancy providing support to the public sector.
Julian: Who is in your opinion one of the most important leaders of
regional integration in (Southern) Africa and why?
Tracy: I don’t believe that there should be any one ‘most important’
leader of regional integration, because the term integration itself
relates to the co-operation of many. It might be dangerous to seek
out a single dominant leader because each country’s interest should
be protected equally. I think that the players in regional integration
should not only be political leaders, but also non-governmental
groups, civic organizations etc.
Julian: How important is regional cooperation and integration for
South Africa? If you could give an advice to South African politicians,
what would you tell them with regard to their regional integration
policies?
Tracy: I think regional integration is very important to South Africa, not only economically and
politically but also socially. As the region’s dominant economy we must be careful not to
overpower our neighbours. We should also not condone injustices which may be playing out in
neighbouring countries. And where we can play a role in helping citizens of other countries who
are in need, we should use our position to do so. Socially there are many barriers which need to
be broken down in the region – the xenophobic violence which has taken place in SA illustrates
just how important this is. Regional integration for me is not only about finding ways to thrive
economically. It’s about creating an environment conducive for countries and citizens to support
each other and develop an appreciation of our diversity.
Julian: If you think back to the Go Africa…Go Germany programme 2007, how has your
perception of Germany and Namibia changed after participating in the programme?
Tracy: I realized that while Germany is one of the world’s most dominant economies it faces a
host of social challenges, which I never expected. I was also surprised by the social diversity and
mix of cultures. In Namibia I discovered a fascinatingly rich and diverse cultural heritage.
Furthermore, I learnt that, like my own country, Namibia’s young democracy is quite fragile.
Julian: What was the most interesting experience for you personally?
Tracy: I really learnt a lot from the other participants and found our many discussions to be
fascinating, enjoyable and informative. The programme gave us the chance to share our realities
and deal with common misperceptions. Above all I made many new wonderful friends and feel
privileged to have had this experience. ▪