AFRICA WON’T BECOME A BATTLEFIELD FOR BIG POWERS’ HEGEMONIC STRUGGLE
Like others before him, especially from the USA and Europe, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has also embarked on a charm offensive in Africa ostensibly to convince Africans of how bad Russia is.
Just imagine how audacious Dmytro is! He chose Africa Day – an auspicious day when Africa commemorates her struggle for emancipation and self-determination – to launch his offensive against Russia before leaders of Africa.
And how patronising can a man be! Here is how blunt he was – he basically told Africans that their self-professed and time tested principle of non-alignment – a principle contained in the founding Charter of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union (AU), is antiquated and must be ditched!
IN NOT SO MANY WORDS, DMYTRO SAID:
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Musa Faki Mahamat lused Africa Day commemoration on May 25, to lend a devastating blow on Ukraine’s campaign to sway Africa from her time-tested commitment to the principle of non-alignment.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is on a charm offensive in Africa with a singular purpose – to convince Africa to condemn Russia’s annihilation of his country; or at best to support the US-led NATO alliance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has gone on for over a year now.
In his address on Africa Day Kuleba reminded Africa how his country has been a steadfast partner and why it was important for Africa to remember the sacrifices Ukraine made towards her liberation.
To preface his message to Africans, the foreign minister reminded that, for more than a year, Ukraine has been fighting a defensive war for its freedom and independence against Russian invaders.
This is not a border dispute, he reminded, but a war of aggression. Russia tries to establish control over Ukraine because it does not recognise our right to exist as a sovereign nation and choose our path of peaceful and prosperous development, Dmytro said.
And now the punchline - “Supporting Ukraine is not about being pro-Western or anti-Western. It is about respecting the UN Charter, international law and order, as well as the right of every nation to choose its own peaceful path of development.
“We are hearing calls for peace from various countries and leaders. We support them as such and think they need to be directed first and foremost to Russia as the country that started this war.
“No other nation in the world wants peace more than Ukraine. But we know that real peace needs to be just and sustainable. We are open to discussing any peace initiative if it respects two principles: does not suggest territorial concessions and does not lead to a frozen conflict instead of peace.
“Ukraine has a clear plan in this regard. It is called President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula. This war is happening on Ukraine’s soil, so we consider it natural that a Ukrainian peace plan should be at the core of the peace effort. We invite African countries to join the implementation of the formula”.
But, uncharacteristically of him, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Musa Faki Mahamat did not slip or falter on his step as he usually does when he encounters occupying powers like Israel and Morocco!
Instead, he unflinchingly reiterated the steadfast position of Africa in the clearest terms! And I for one, am happy that he did, because every time one defers to logic in trying to analyse the RussiaUkraine logic, one is dismissed as ‘pro-Russian’!
Musa Faki responded in his speech to commemorate Africa Day by reminding all and sundry that despite the difficulties of all kinds, Africa remains characterised by its great capacity for resilience, noting that she has recorded progress in the face of exogenous shocks such as COVID-19 and now Russia-Ukraine conflict - that accentuated the fragilities which AU’s efforts were already working to overcome.
And now for Musa Faki’s punchline – “To the shocks linked to the classic factors of fragility, such as excruciating debt service or the fall in the prices of raw materials, have been added the consequences of the intensification of the hegemonic struggle between the big powers.
“In this international context of confrontation of divergent geopolitical interests, the will of each side threatens to transform Africa into a geostrategic battleground, thereby, recreating a new version of the Cold War that is very detrimental to the effectiveness of multilateralism, on which global peace and security depend.
In this zero-sum game, where the gains of others would translate into losses for Africa, we must resist all forms of instrumentalisation of our Member States, taken individually and collectively, by sharing the strong conviction that our future remains and will depend on the patient and methodical building of our unity. Africa must unite, said Kwame Nkrumah.
The imperative duty that challenges us, today, with insistence, in this international environment marked by identity withdrawals and outbursts of protectionism, is to give real, dynamic content to this unity, if we are determined to build the Africa we want.
On this solemn day, the celebration of which plunges us back into the spirit of the Founding Fathers of the OAU, I would like to amplify their voices, which continue to reverberate, beyond their graves, by making a vibrant appeal to all of us, Africans of the Continent and of the Diaspora, so that the strength of our unity and our long-awaited and expected solidarity operate, henceforth, as indispensable levers for our power and emancipation.
Let us rely on ourselves first. The solidarity of our friends and partners will also come to supplement”.
Of-course, there were other things that the Ukrainian foreign minister mentioned such as the training that they offered African national liberation movements. He recalled that from 1965 to the 1980s, many of them were trained in Ukraine for the needs of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, the South West Africa People’s Organisation in Namibia, the Zimbabwe African People’s Union, the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola, the Liberation Front of Mozambique, and the African National Congress in South Africa.
the punitive and hateful elements of the crime. Language is important. It is important to also ensure you use the correct pronouns, name and sexual orientation descriptor when writing about lesbian womxn.
MOVING BEYOND THE COMING OUT NARRATIVE
Journalists are encouraged to write more stories that go beyond “when did you know?” Other worthy topics include violence and hate crimes, legal issues (same sex marriage, adoption, etc.), religion, ongoing discrimination, despite constitutional protection, and how to challenge the issues that lesbian womxn face daily.
LET STORIES BE TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE SUBJECT
To an extent, some content surrounding lesbian perspectives should be mainstreamed, as lesbian womxn are affected by the same issues that have an impact on society as a whole. Issues such as health, HIV/AIDS and education are not separate issues for lesbian womxn and heterosexual womxn, both cis and trans. However, there are issues that are particular to the community and which need to be addressed as such_ for example, how to practice safe sex as a lesbian, and other health issues.
MOVE AWAY FROM ESSENTIALISING MASCULINE PRESENTING LESBIANS
When lesbian identity is mentioned in media, it is often focused on masculine presenting or butch lesbians (such as sports stars). Try to move towards a more inclusive, balanced style of representation. This can be achieved by including reports on more of the following; Individual and collective achievements. Positive representations of relatable experiences could serve as great encouragement for young lesbians who may be fearful about coming out. Include stories and interviews about positive role models. Furthermore, reporters should include stories about the multi-faceted, ordinary, happy, everyday lives of lesbian womxn to reduce the fears of expressing lesbian identity in public spheres. More diverse coverage can also help to normalize lesbian identity in the broader society.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN COMPILING A REPORT
The stories produced about LGBTIQ+ people affect these individuals and society at large. Like any other topic, journalists should be aware that their stories affect how LGBTIQ+ people are perceived and treated. Above all, perhaps, journalists’ words affect their subjects psychologically. Therefore, journalists should consider the following in their reporting. Avoid mentioning LGBTIQ+ status when such information is not directly relevant to the story. Carefully consider word choice and framing around sexual and gender minorities and followers of different faiths. Use the source’s preferred terminology.Allow marginalized people to speak for themselves and in their own voices.Are you doing the story to stir emotions, or will it improve knowledge and well-being? Sensationalized depictions are often full of false or exaggerated information and lead to the public being misinformed, which can have long lasting effects and serious security implications. Coverage of LGBTIQ+ issues should reflect the true state of the community, and the use of sensational or abusive language should be avoided. Aim to educate and inform. A story should be newsworthy and useful to your audience. While some media aim to entertain, it is unfair to trivialize the lives and stories of minority groups. Always report facts that can be backed up by evidence. Avoid adding your opinions. Constructive stories use the voices of LGBTIQ+ people, challenges stereotypes, use simple accessible language, provide research, history, context and use inclusive language. Negative stories perpetuate stereotypes, lack sources, have biased coverage of the issue (moralizing, open prejudice, ridicule, etc.), use jargon or stereotypical language and discriminatory language (“the homosexuals” “gays” etc.)