THE TWISTER
Towering above the Ethiopian capital, cloaked in urban smog, the new Chinese-built African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa is a bold symbol of China's rapidly changing role in Africa. Once seen as strictly interested in extracting raw resources and investing in infrastructure, China has interests on the continent that are increasingly shifting to investing in institutions and governments, experts say.
Construction of the 99.9 metre-tall building was wholly funded by the Chinese government at a cost of $200 million. Even the furnishings were paid for by the Asian powerhouse, and most of the construction material was imported from China. That is how one news agency wrote recently on the newly inaugurated sleek African Union Headquarters, which is Addis Ababa's tallest building.
While African leaders were clapping hands for Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference when he officially inaugurated magnificent building, some hardcore Pan Africans were appalled.
As far as the Pan Africans are concerned it does not make sense for a continental grouping like African Union whose vision is that of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena,” to have its headquarters designed, funded and built by the Chinese government.
The question is: Does it mean all the countries on the continent have no political and financial capacity to mobilise their resources and use African architectures, engineers and African construction companies to build the headquarters of its continental mother body?
With African Union behaving like a parasite by accepting a donation in form of its own headquarters, isn’t that defeating the whole concept of Pan-Africanism which demands that the riches of Africa be used for the benefit, upliftment, development and enjoyment of the African people?
One critics of the move is West Africa’s political commentator Chika Ezeanya who has described the development as a tragedy in the history of the African Union and Pan Africanism.
According to Ezeanya, it is an insult to the African Union and to every African that in 21st century to have a building as symbolic as the AU headquarters designed, built and maintained by a foreign country.
In his view, this kind of donation termed ‘China’s gift to Africa’, which was constructed by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation with over 90 percent Chinese labour discredits the African Union.
Chika presents the following arguments in his criticism: “The ancient and modern history of donation of buildings and structures from one nation to another is filled with intrigues and subterfuges, conquests, diplomatic scheming, espionage and counter-espionage, economic manipulations, political statements and dominations. The construction of the Trojan horse by Odysseus and its ‘donation’ resulted in the Greek conquest of the ancient city of Troy after 10 years of unending skirmish.
In building the Basilica in Rome – termed the ‘greatest of all churches of Christendom’, contributions from the faithful were emphasized rather than donations from friendly nations. Even the gift of the Liberty Statue from France to the United States on the occasion of the latter’s independence was a joint effort, whereby over 120,000 Americans led by Joseph Pulitzer contributed funds for the construction of the pedestal in 1885.
In a rare glimpse into the matter, the book ‘Architecture of Diplomacy’, Jane C. Loeffler reveals the underlying diplomatic manoeuvrings and political ramifications that define the construction of American embassies all over the world. The author states that building an embassy requires ‘as much diplomacy as design.’ Loeffler enumerates factors seriously considered in the construction of an American embassy building and they include ‘world politics, American agendas, architectural politics, cultural considerations, security’ and several others.
Common sense dictates that in an era of increasing exploitation of Africa’s natural resources by foreign powers including China, the African Union, rather than the apparent submission signified by acceptance of the construction of its headquarters by China, should be an organisation advocating for fairness in the relationship that exists between the continent and the global powers.
Should security considerations be included, then the question arises as to how African heads of state and government could hold confidential meetings in a building they have no idea how it was wired. What guarantee do African governments have that every word uttered in the new headquarters in Addis Ababa is not heard in Beijing? What evidence negates the suspicion that all activities in the just completed building are not replayed on a large screen in Beijing as Chinese secret service agents are watching?”
I also find African Union acceptance of the donation strange. I thought this continent where we have hot-headed leaders who sing choruses of political and economic sovereignty should have the stamina to fund the headquarters of their political club. But lo, the whole continent depends on donations even to have its headquarters.
In June, African leaders will be in Malawi for their summit and guess where they will be sleeping? Presidential chalets by the Chinese and they will be holding their summit in an international conference centre built by the Chinese.
The heart of the matter is: Does it make sense for African leaders to be despising aid from the West because of the conditions attached to it while clapping hands for aid from the East because of the hidden conditions attached to it?
Is it neo-colonialism when western nations support Malawi and not neo-colonialism when east supports Malawi? When we call western partners neo-colonialists, what should we call our eastern partners? Furthermore, why should African nations fail to unite to build their own headquarters? If the whole continent can depend on aid to have new headquarters for its continental body, can sovereign Malawi do without support from cooperating partners?
References: AFP News Report & Chika Ezeanya viewpoint published by Pambazuka website
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