For the president of the African Centre for Economic Intelligence and Intelligence, the 60 years of Africa's independence are, as a whole, a failure of such magnitude that it probably explains why some believe that the black man has not entered history enough... Guy Gweth calls for a guardianship of the UN, over 30 years, to provide a framework, standards and an independent arbiter to Africa's vibrant youth. Exclusive maintenance.

Financial Afrik: You recently published an astonishing op-ed entitled "Should We Put Africa under the Tutelage of the United Nations?" A strong advocate of an autonomous and competitive Africa, how did you get here?

Guy Gweth: Over the past fifteen years, my job has been to sell Africa to international investors, foreign and diaspora business leaders, tourists, researchers and students from the rest of the world. Among our main selling points, in addition to growth, the consumption of the middle classes, the improvement of the business climate, there was the progress of the rule of law, the renewal of elites and the advance of good governance. The model countries were then Mauritius, Rwanda, Morocco, Senegal, Ghana and... Ivory Coast. The wave of mandates too many, the return of coups, the persistence of migratory tragedies and the worsening of insecurity in the Sahelo-Saharan strip have put us in the wing. Faced with this picture, questioning was inevitable, both because these phenomena are the product of betrayal and because they are acute when taking stock of 60 years of independence in Africa. 

In this regard, your audit of the 60 years of African independence will be published by Financial Afrik in the form of columns from 24 October 2020. But can we already have the quintessence of your conclusions?

I would have liked to have started publishing these columns earlier, but the convening by the Congolese President, Sassou Nguesso, of an international conference on October 24, in Brazzaville, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the independence of the French-speaking countries encouraged me to wait. I very much hope that this event will be the pretext for a free and contradictory debate on the balance sheet of our States, 60 years later. Our work concludes that it has failed to such an extent that it probably explains why some believe that "the black man has not entered history enough". With what discourses and demonstrations will this be answered if, 60 years after independence, we have not had the opportunity to build hospitals capable of treating our leaders in their country, hotels capable of welcoming them for the holidays, schools capable of educating their offspring, banks capable of securing their assets, media capable of interviewing them, courts capable of judging them on the national territory?

Let it be understood that not everything has been a failure. Far from it. But we have essentially failed to contribute to the evolution of the modern world, living up to the hopes that were placed in us in 1960. It is because the impact of this failure has become a danger for Africa and for the rest of the world that I call for United Nations supervision over Africa. Because beyond the pride of having executioners who look like us, our youth needs a framework, standards and referee to let its genius burst forth. 

How would you see this guardianship?

Remember that in 1945, the Trusteeship Council was established by the Charter of the United Nations, under its Chapter XIII, to provide international surveillance of the 11 territories under the administration of seven Member States, and to ensure that appropriate measures were taken to prepare the Territories for self-government or independence. pendance. On 1 November 1994, the United Nations ruled that all Trust Territories had acquired autonomy or independence, either as a State in their own right or by integrating with neighbouring States. The recognition of the Pacific Islands as the 185th Member State of the Organization sounded the death knell of the Council.Believing that its mission had been accomplished, the entity amended its rules of procedure. Now composed of the five permanent members of the Security Council: China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Russia, it meets more and more rarely.  In the case of Africa, in the absence of a veto, it could be joined by powers such as Germany, Japan and India, which also play a leading role in Africa. Based on the trajectories of many Africans from the diaspora, my opinion is that, placed in the same conditions as other young people in the world, African youth are able to reach the highest peaks. A 30-year UN trusteeship could provide these conditions before rethinking independence.

In this case, through what mechanism will African countries regain their international autonomy?

 
I am in favour of a scoring grid that will enable the countries under the supervision of the United Nations to regain their international autonomy. Points sovereignty or merit independence, if you prefer, would have the advantage of reflecting a quantifiable and measurable level of maturity. While allowing the best to stand out, such a grid would have – by its homogeneity – the advantage of contributing to the true Pan-Africanism that Africans have been technically waiting for since 1963... We do not reach such a conclusion without bitterness. But after 60 years of experience, it is permissible to change software and engage targets in change management.

Some critics believe that your proposal for guardianship plays into the hands of the powers, that it takes Africa back... What do you say to that?

I understand and welcome these criticisms with empathy. The sovereignty of Africa or what stands in its place is a subject that unleashes many contradictory and paradoxical passions. Contradictory because you have, on the one hand, analysts who believe that the independences acquired in the 60s are not, that the colonizing powers continue to pull the strings, helped in this by the ruling elite. This is what we can read, in filigree, in open letter addressed on August 26, 2020 by Guillaume Soro, presidential candidate of October 31, 2020 in Côte d'Ivoire to President Macron when he wrote to him: "Your word is expected in Côte d'Ivoire..." You have those who could be described as sovereignists. For them, the independence gained in 1960 is irreversible. They have the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of their state tied to the body, except when it comes to appealing for international aid... What is paradoxical in the case is that a part of the opinion whose freedoms and genius are restrained by Repressive, illegitimate or incompetent governments become tense when I call for a guardianship whose purpose will be to provide a consensual framework, fair and equitable standards and international arbitration. With a UN supervision, our apprentice states will undoubtedly experience more social justice, more respect for human rights, less corruption and insecurity and no constitutional interpretation... Clearly, better governance would allow, at a minimum, to have health insurance and a decent minimum wage throughout the African continent, to name just a few of the benefits of everyday life. In exchange, the rest of the world will be able to count on a giant that has once again become the liver of the planet, the cradle of humanity.