Emulate China...where it fits

Rather than wholesomely criticising China in its African endeavours, the West should reexamine itself and kindly pursue a more pragmatic relationship with our continent. For example, what has the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement (or its predecessor Lome Conventions, for that matter) so far done for Africa and Africans? This brilliant pact has remained a paper tiger for ages, bogged down by bureaucratic bottlenecks, political gerrymandering, and even outright deceit - in some cases! How can this partnership truly work when the private sector, civil society, experts and professionals are cleverly excluded from benefits, support and participation? Everything seems tied to governments - which is not the practice in Europe - against the logic of market forces, knowledge economy, specialisation and globalisation!! Personal, private and individual initiatives are either forbidden or stifled!!!

If the pact had been proactive and honestly implemented over the years, the level of poverty in the region would have been different. It suited the parties (mostly politicians and civil servants!) to keep and sustain the status quo, even when the truth is known. After all, the EU has several diplomatic missions, and its members also do, across the ACP. How then can they pretend not to know what is on ground in these countries viz a viz the Agreement? They do. The ACP powers also do. Between them both, plenty is amiss!

Reviews and so-called revamps of the pact have failed because the raison d'etre is undermined each time. The Agreement is too complicated and burdensome in structure, its wordings are not user-friendly and its mechanisms are bureaucracy-skewed. If the EU really wants to work with ACP, it must do so ACROSS the board of the polity, economy, geography and demography. Just as it does in Europe! Why should anyone require government licence or stamp (incorporation, for instance) to benefit from development assistance, when you have missions? Do you do that in Europe? That is a sure way to put crusaders, critics, researchers, professionals, writers and journalists in the pockets of repressive regimes or under censorship. Risk takers, as researchers, entrepreneurs and crusaders, are critical forces for change worldwide, they are same for ACP - thus, EU support should be unencumbered.

China's approach is "trade & development" oriented. Yes, there are grey areas, but the West has many issues with the PRC itself yet does trillions of dollars business there! Sensible. It is better to be constructively engaged than to isolate. China is doing same in Africa.

And, hey, Africans are no fools, you know. They will not permit recolonization, you bet! Friends
are better helpers and persuaders than antagonists, I would say. Constructive engagement!

Chancellor Angela Merkel should use the German presidency of the EU to refocus and rejig the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement. It will not work profitably as it stands. Real stakeholders should be brought on board from both sides, and the resources should be disaggregated. There are too many EU institutions and too few ACP players to make it profitable! There are also too many meetings, too much paperwork, and lopsided access in the whole endeavour!! It certainly needs some fresh air and new spirit in line with present realities: Free up the funds and monitor same like hell! Cast the net wider and firmer!! Do for ACP what and how you will do for Europe!!!

The ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement needs to be dynamic, realistic, creative, programmatic and BOLDLY projectised.