AU must make a U-turn

I HAD thought only human beings lose their teeth as they grow older but to my surprise, the African Union (AU) just proved me wrong with the number of teeth it seems to lose as it ages.
At 50, the AU seems to be more of a toothless entity in the dynamics of global politics and economics as it constantly seems to struggle to object or challenge decisions taken by the invaders of our mother continent.
Instead of fighting for the interests of Africans on a global scale, our much-vaunted continental body is a mere baby when it comes to influencing decisions taken by the West that directly impact the African people. Two of the AU objectives are to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of member states and to accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent.
Well, if you ask me, we are not making any strides in achieving those objectives. Not as long as we continue to wait for the West to decide on the fate of Africa. Last time I checked, Africa was still the richest continent in terms of natural resources, why then should we run to the West to beg for aid in the form of loans, medication and what have you? Many of you will agree with me that the West should indeed be running to us to work or provide aid to them.

It is time the AU grows and defends Africans and their abundant resources. With due respect to our current generation of African presidents, they are just not militant and principled enough to fend off the West like our vintage crop of leaders including Sam Nujoma, Robert Mugabe, Julius Nyerere, Muammar Gaddafi, Kwame Nkrumah, Kenneth Kaunda and many other iconic African leaders.
These gentlemen were fearless to speak for the ordinary African because they were aware the resources the continent possesses could sustain us without begging. Nowadays, leaders only consider their own countries, makes you wonder why they are even part of the AU. I vividly remember the AU's mediocre attempt to mediate in the civil war in Libya in 2011 – it was clear for everyone to see that our leaders of today shiver when the West speaks.
A committee comprising of five heads of state that was on its way to Libya to meet Gaddafi was barred from going there because the United Nations Security Council decided to create a no-fly zone over Libya, talk about one man making rules in another man's house. It's not too late to turn the tables, provided that our leaders stand united by fighting for Africa as a whole and not for their respective states in order to achieve all 14 objectives of our beloved African Union.
Happy 50th anniversary AU. Eewa!
http://www.newera.com.na/