President Jakaya Kikwete has slammed policies of former colonial masters for most of present internal and cross-border conflicts in Africa, noting, however that the continent is better-off at present than it was in the past two decades.
A cross section of the delegates and dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony for the Ministerial Meeting of the Peace and Security of the African Union held in Dar es Salaam
“Boundaries drawn by the colonialists between African countries and policies such as divide and rule have resulted into quarrels along tribal, ethnic and religious lines,” Mr Kikwete said in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The president made the remarks in his address to the 368th African Union (AU) ministerial meeting on the Peace and Security Council held to discuss the political situation in Madagascar, ahead of elections slated for that country in July.
“There are people of same culture and background but still kill one another because of trivial matters and this is because they were divided by the colonialists,” Mr Kikwete noted with concern. He also blamed what he described as a class of politicians in Africa who because of greed for power and wealth, collaborated with the former colonialists to fuel conflicts on the continent.
Mr Kikwete was bitter that the class of politicians was willing to sell their people for power and wealth and subject the population in their respective countries to sufferings. Nevertheless, the president was happy that almost all conflicts in the continent are either under resolution or being managed at various levels.
“Africa is better today than it was over the past two-decades, military coups that were the order of the day during that time as well as unconstitutional and undemocratic change of power are at present not tolerated,” he noted.
At the same occasion, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, hailed Tanzania for its contribution to the liberation struggle. “Equally, Tanzania still plays an active role in the solving and resolution of conflicts in Africa.
I would also like to commend President Kikwete for his commitment to solving conflicts in the continent,” Ambassador Lamamra said. He cited the clashes in which President Kikwete had a role in solving as the post-election violence in Kenya after the 2007 General Election in that country as well as unrests in the Comoros and Ivory Coast, among others.
And as the AU is set to mark the 50th Anniversary next month, Amb. Lamamra said the Golden Jubilee should be used to consolidate peace and manage ongoing conflicts in Africa. The predecessor of AU, the then Organisation of African Union (OAU) was formed in 1963. Regarding Madagascar, he said all stakeholders have been engaged in mediation, noting, however, that despite progress which has been attained there are still challenges which need to be addressed.
Speaking earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Bernard Membe, who is also the current Chair of the AU Peace and Security Council, said the meeting was among interventions by the AU to finding a lasting solution to political stalemate in Madagascar. The meeting will be briefed by former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano on the progress of ending disputes among conflicting parties in that country.
Chissano has been a mediator in the conflict under the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Established in the year 2004, the council is charged with prevention, resolution and management of conflicts in the African continent.
By ALVAR MWAKYUSA, Tanzania Daily News
