Africans expect solutions from AU summit

By Thuso Khumalo
Monday, June 15, 2015

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JOHANNESBURG-- As heads of state and government from Africa's 54 countries prepare to gather in Johannesburg, Africans are expecting the leaders to come up with solutions that will tackle the continent's critical challenges.

Some say the leaders have a series of problems to solve at the two-day meeting, including civil wars which are causing serious destruction in countries like Egypt, South Sudan, Somalia and some parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Incidents of terrorism have also left many people dead and thousands displaced in countries like Kenya and Nigeria.

The recent political unrest that erupted in Burundi following President Pierre Nkurunzinza's bid to run for the third term has also destabilized the regional situation and posed security challenges.

There are also mounting problems on the socio-economic front. Million's of the continent's citizens are living on less than 1.25 U.S dollars per day. Unemployment is also a big problem in many African countries. Figures show that in Sub-Saharan Africa alone over 20 percent of the youth is unemployed.

In North and West Africa unemployment and poverty is forcing thousands of youths to cross the Mediterranean sea to find greener pastures in Europe. Many have drowned and died in this journey.

Allegations of human rights abuses also continue to arise in different countries. Woman empowerment is too slow and the patience of women is running out.

African citizens say they are hoping for solutions when their leaders meet on Sunday and Monday in South Africa.

Hopewell Sedibe is one of the young South Africans who have already given up on looking for employment. The country is faced with over 25 percent unemployment. He is now living under bridges in Johannesburg as he cannot afford to pay rent. Sedibe said he wants the AU meeting to prioritise efforts to end poverty and unemployment.

"I have failed to find work for 10 years and now survive by eating from the rubbish bin. Many of us in Africa are suffering."

"I call on our leaders to find ways of developing our economies so that we have enough jobs to take care of ourselves and families, " said Sedibe.

However, others believe civil wars, terrorism and political unrests should top the agenda of the African leaders.

"There is no investor who wants to start a business in a country where there is war or political unrest. The leaders should intervene in all areas where there are wars and bring peace," said Gideon Chitanga, Researcher at the Centre for Study of Democracy at the University of Johannesburg.

Another Scholar, Dr. Salah Eddin Elzein Mohamed, Director at Aljazeera Centre for Studies, wants the African leaders to bring peace to Africa's youngest state of South Sudan.

Mohamed says "There is need to first create genuine reconciliation between Sudan and South Sudan. Once that is done the leaders should then facilitate unity amongst political leaders in South Sudan."

Some are calling for a speedy establishment of the African standby military force that will be swiftly deployed to deal with conflicts across the continent.

Women also want the talk about women empowerment to be put into action in all countries.

Josepha Musabyemariya, a Rwandan national who is also a delegate at the 25th AU, said, "I want to see an Africa that has empowered women in all sectors and careers including technology, engineering and in political positions.

Although some say they have no hope that these problems will be solved at the African leaders' meeting, others remain positive that tangible action will be taken to deal with most of these challenges.

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