Zimpapers Logo

Christopher Farai Charamba Correspondent
#JeSuisCharlie is the catch phrase used by millions around the world to show solidarity with the 17 people killed in France after terrorists attacked French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

On Sunday January 11 2015 millions of people flooded the streets of France in a march protesting against terrorism and in defence of freedom of speech and expression.

The march was also attended by world leaders including French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Six African leaders, president of Mali — Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Niger — Mahamadou Issoufou, Togo — Faure Gnassingbé, Benin — Yayi Boni, Gabon — Ali Bongo Ondimba and Macky Sall of Senegal, also joined arms with their European counterparts on the streets of France.

While the world denounced terrorism and defended their rights and those of the 17 killed in France, Boko Haram laid waste to the town of Baga in Nigeria, killing more than 2 000 civilians. The reaction to these latest atrocities by the militant group Boko Haram has been paltry in comparison to the attack in Paris.

African leaders remain mum and offer no solutions to terrorism, not only in Nigeria but also in other countries such as Kenya. Currently, it seems they are preoccupied with being Charlie, which then begs the question, si vous êtes Charlie, qui est Baga? (If you are Charlie, who is Baga?)

Criticism of African leaders is not unfounded, for years the call has been for “African solutions to African problems.”

The reality, however, is that the continent is big on talk and small on action.

Many have argued that Africa needs to stop blaming the West for its problems and that our leaders should take responsibility for the crises that we face.

It is true that, as Africans, it is pertinent for us to assume responsibility for our future as the rest of the world is evidently not interested in the continent’s grievances.

But do we really have control over our affairs? Is the hangover from colonialism and structural adjustment programmes of yesteryear truly gone? Are African countries, regional bodies and organisations well-equipped to deal with terrorism, disease and poverty afflicting the continent?

The sad reality is that many African countries are still at the mercy of the colonialists. An article by Mawuna Remarque Koutonin states that 14 African countries are forced by France to pay colonial tax for “the benefits of slavery and colonisation.”

An ironic statement because if one thought slavery and colonialism to be beneficial, surely they would not have fought so valiantly for their freedom.

One can safely posit that African solutions will never succeed while we remain tethered to former colonial powers.

The 14 countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Cross reference the list of African Heads of State who marched in Paris with these 14 countries and you will find six countries on that list. This then could be one of the reasons why these leaders found themselves in France.

In the article, Koutonin writes that “When Sékou Touré of Guinea decided in 1958 to get out of French colonial empire, and opted for the country independence, the French colonial elite in Paris got so furious, and in a historic act of fury the French administration in Guinea destroyed everything in the country which represented what they called the benefits from French colonisation.”

The fallout from this act of fury saw the 3 000 Frenchmen in Guinea leave the country with all their property and destroying hospitals, schools and anything else they could to sabotage independent Guinea.

Animals were killed, food resources were burnt as punishment for what they deemed an act of defiance.

Sékou Touré’s slogan was “We prefer freedom in poverty to opulence in slavery.”

Africa must not allow itself to be held to ransom by its former colonisers as they are reliant on us. Our leaders must state that “I am not Charlie but We Are Africa”.