GESELLSCHAFT FÜR AUSSENPOLITIK
FOREIGN AFFAIRS ASSOCIATION
“Africa’s Turn?”
Sub-Saharan Africa Symposium
Thursday, 23th January 2014
State Museum of Ethnology Munich (Völkerkundemuseum)
Maximilianstrasße 42, 80538 Munich
„Afro-pessimism is still too prevalent in Europe, not just in the circles of power, but in public opinion too.
Africa continues to be regarded as a "problem". In counterpoint to this perception is the moralizing, charitable approach that ultimately provides a blinkered view of the relationship with Africa.”
Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid (2007)
Main Objective
In the recent years Sub-Saharan Africa has been presented in a different picture by the media with popular talks of “Africa Rising”. Immense internal progress in terms of democratization, human development and poverty reduction, the onset of the “mobile revolution” as well as high growth rates are widely emphasized. Even though statistical data remains unreliable and developmental outcomes vary enormously in between countries, Africa appears to experience a period of unprecedented socio-economic growth. Despite these improvements, insecurity and rocking violence-as latest incidents in Kenya, South Sudan and Central African Republic suggest- remain some of the various, multifaceted problems of contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa.
While Africa has been long considered as sitting on the margins of the international political economy, its external relations have changed to some extend. Just recently, the African Union (AU) has celebrated its 50 th anniversary of unity, with its power and autonomy remaining subject to debate. Emerging global powers such as
China, India and Brazil have built strong ties with many African countries, promoting “South-South” trade, acting as important investors and providing aid packages to African governments in exchange for provisions for infrastructure. They have entered multilateral relations on the basis of their historic connectivity and respect for sovereignty and non-intervention. In contrast the EU-African relationship faces severe challenges and needs to find new ways forward by escaping colonial legacies, defining common interests, and most importantly promoting equal cooperation.
This symposium addresses following key topics: Enduring Conflicts, External Interventions and Refugees;
Economic Development and Prospects for Industrialization; and Extractive Industries and Natural
Resources. In order to avoid generalizations, “country perspectives” shall highlight the diverse experiences across the continent. The Symposium aims to bring together a range of speakers including international academics and experts from both private and public sector to provide an opportunity for exchange. At the same time it intends to increase public awareness of opportunities and challenges facing Sub-Saharan Africa in the
21th Century.
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Panel-Discussions
A: Enduring Conflicts, External Interventions and Refugees
While some of Africa’s brutal civil wars such as in Rwanda have ended, other countries continue to experience violence and insurgencies by rebel forces. At present, about a third of Sub-Saharan African countries are in the throes of violent conflict. In the past year alone, violence has rocked Mali, Nigeria, Kenya, South Sudan and just recently the Central African Republic (CAR). The underlying causes are often considered religious or tribal in nature, while the importance of political forces and colonial legacies with problematic borders is often understated. In the context of the “War on Terror”, the spread of ethno-religious fundamentalism also poses a major concern for the West. Foreign interventions such as in Mali and in CAR shall be discussed regarding underlying motives and justifications. Moreover, contemporary migration flows from Africa to Europe are mainly asylum seekers and refugees from conflict zones. Even though most African displaced persons are constraint in their mobility merely to neighboring borderlands, EU member states continue to struggle in finding a consensus on managing those refugees who make it across to Europe.
Discussion Topics:
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Reflections on Rwandan Genocide 1994 and on the situation 20 Years after
Rethinking the Role of different Actors in External Interventions in African Conflicts
Western Involvement: “War on Terror” or Neo-colonialism?
The AU in African Peacekeeping Missions
Crisis-Migration Nexus: Refugees and European Migration Management
Country Perspectives: Rwanda, Mali, Kenya, South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR)
Panelists:
Chair: Dr. Michael Birnbaum, former Africa Correspondent of Süddeutsche Zeitung: Introductory Presentation
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H.E. Christine Nkulikiyinka , Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda in Berlin
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schomburg , former Judge at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for
Rwanda
Dr. Annette Weber , Head of Research Division Middle East and Africa, German Institute for
International and Security Affairs (SWP)
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B: Economic Development and Prospects for Industrialization
Despite the global economic crisis, most African countries experienced rapid growth rates, averaging almost five percent a year since 2000. This was partly driven by commodity valuations. Nevertheless, many countries are either stagnating or moving backwards when it comes to industrialisation. In fact the manufacturing sector in many Sub-Saharan African countries currently accounts for the same small share of overall GDP that it did in the
1970s. Even in countries that have achieved both rapid growth and poverty reduction, such as Ghana, there has been remarkably little structural transformation of the economy. Reducing resource dependence and crisis vulnerability in the context of unstable international commodity markets and promoting long term economic development with employment creation is only accompanied by a structural transformation of the economy. This also tackles underlying causes of contemporary concerns of radical extremism and migration flows.
Discussion Topics:
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Sustainability of African Growth Experiences
Structural Transformation of the Economy
Rethinking development policy: Private Sector Development or State-led Strategies?
Country Reflections: Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique
Panelists:
Chair: Dr. Jonathan Di John , SOAS, Crisis States Research Centre at London School of Economics:
Introductory Presentation
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H.E. Amadeu Paulo Samuel Da Conceição , Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique in Berlin
Andreas Proksch , Head of Africa Department, German Society for International Cooperation
(GIZ)
Fulvia Farinelli , Deputy Chief of Enterprise and Investment Division, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
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C: Africa’s Extractive Industries and Natural Resources: A New Great Game?
The extraction of Africa’s resources is nothing new, when one looks back at Africa‘s colonial history. Due to globalization, the energy and information revolution and a growing world population, a rising global demand for resources has pushed contemporary Africa in the centre of attention. Besides geopolitics of energy, there is a global rush to many African countries due to their large reserves of metals and minerals, necessary for new technologies. As a mineral-poor country, Germany is also dependent on Africa’s raw materials. Large-scale extraction of Africa’s mineral resources, but also agricultural commodities for export, is often conducted under poor conditions for the local population and environment with only a few benefiting from their sale. Moreover, when it comes to natural resource revenues for national governments, many warn of the "resource curse". These revenues however are crucial for economic development and poverty alleviation.
Discussion Topics:
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Natural Resources and Sustainable Development
Good Governance and Natural Resource Management
Rethinking the “Resource Curse”
A new „Great Game“: US, Europe and BRICS
Country perspectives: Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Liberia, South Africa, Mozambique
Panelists:
Chair: Dr. Beatrice Bischof , Member of the Foreign Affairs Association Board
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Christoph Eibl, CEO Tiberius Asset Management AG, Chairman Supervisory Board TMT Metals
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Georg Reichl , Head of Foreign Trade Division Africa, Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs
Dr. Stefan Mair , Member of Executive Board, Federation of German Industries (BDI)
Solomon Kusi Ampofo , Programmes Officer Extractive Industries, Friends of the Nation, Ghana
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