Opinion
Towards the end of his African trip a fortnight ago, US President Barak Obama addressed African leaders in Addis Ababa. The issue which became subject of interesting debate was the African leaders (like Uganda's Yoweri Museveni) who change the constitution and stay in power seemingly forever.
Among many things, said Obama, 'if you say you are the only one who can lead the country then you have failed in grooming others to take over from you.' He added that staying on for too long leads to strife and instability. Correct all the way.
The African autocrats' echo chamber, sympathisers, acolytes, hangers on and sycophants predictably took issue with Obama. They said he has no right to meddle in African issues and 'lecture us.' This is extremely ridiculous and irresponsible. To begin with Obama or anyone else has a right to comment on the predicament or any other aspect regarding the African continent or anything else globally. It not only adds to knowledge and elicits debate but is their freedom.
The issue one may have with Obama and most of the people who debate the question of autocracy in Africa is to look at it as purely an African bad-big-men's problem. That is, greedy men and the cabals of thieves that surround them, grabbing power and refusing to let go just to satisfy their whims and egos.
It is more than that. The African autocrat is a child of many factors. One of the most important ones is that he is a compliant client of the world's super powers -mainly the West.
During the days of the Cold War in the 20th Century the West reserved the term 'our son of a bitch' for dictators in Africa who were for the pro-western ideology of capitalism. This was opposed to the plain 'son of a bitch' for those who bent towards the East-then USSR and her communist allies. The Mobutu Sese Seko's of former Zaire loaded it over their citizens with the support of the West. In exchange the West had unfettered cheap access to the mineral wealth of Zaire.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the East -West ideology debate as a point of identity and sphere of influence virtually disappeared. But the desire to have a piece of the continent mainly for the abundant cheap natural resources remained intact or better still, was augmented.
It was exacerbated by the rise of China, Japan, India and the so called Asian Tigers; South Korea, Malasiya, Singapore, etc. Because the cost of production on the factory floor of these countries is much lower in comparison to the West, the West has found itself out competed and their economies are losing jobs at alarming rates.
If the West is to maintain higher wages for its labour force it needs very cheap raw materials and energy in terms of oil from Africa to remain competitive. This is where the African Autocrat is welcomed with open hands by the West. Many times he comes to the party with blood on his hands and a constitution in tatters- changed to suit his whims. If the terms are a problem, white out comes in handy. If there is age limit, the page is pulled out.
But the autocrat is very smart. He will have his army ready to die in any part of the world, dubiously claiming to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with the West in the 'War on terror!' He will 'liberalise' the economy, opening all doors and windows to 'investors' to allow them drain the country's recourses without trouble.
He becomes a useful ally. It is worth noting that an autocrat with excessive power and a weak parliament, judiciary and civil service is of great advantage because he can act single handedly to help those who want to plunder a country's resources with ease.
That is why the US even under President Barack Obama, sends congratulatory messages to leaders of countries that have changed constitutions and gone on to win dubious elections.
That is why under the pretext of 'positive engagement' they continue to provide foreign aid to these countries even when there is overwhelming evidence that most of this aid is simply stolen by these leaders and their acolytes. Obviously this aid helps these autocrats grow stronger in the face of an impoverished population and a country with weakened institutions.
The Obamas know these things but they conveniently leave them out of the debate. They instead satisfy the African audience with the rare act of 'publicly blasting' what we look at as the 'untouchable bully' but leave him in his place. That place is where autocrats thrive -in the presidency of banana republics.
Mr Sengoba is a commentator on political and social issues.