Veep criticize West over weapons in conflict zones

From Edmund Mingle, Abuja

The Vice President Alhaji Alui Mahama has questioned the commitment of Europe addressing armed conflicts in Africa, saying the flow of weapons from developed countries to conflict zones in Africa is an indictment on Europe’s commitment.

“One question to which an answer has no been found is the sources of sophisticated weapons, which are mostly not manufactured in Africa, that are used by actors in conflicts especially rebels,” he said.

Sharing his thoughts on the issues of democracy and conflict prevention at the fourth Partnership with Africa forum, an initiative by the German President for all stakeholders to dialogue to remove barriers to partnership, Alhaji Mahama, said the source weapons needs critical consideration.

He said the issue of c was conflict management was crucial because there could be no meaningful partnership between Europe and Africa without peace.

For instance, he said the collaboration between African countries and development partners to find lasting solution to conflicts in places like the Darfur region of Sudan, Somalia and DR Congo, would be unproductive if issues such as the provision arms to actors in those areas were not addressed.

“This is an issue that Africa and European partners need to intensely deliberate and seek solutions in order to enhance the socio-economic development of Africa,” he said.

Without such measures, he said democracy and good governance which are vital in creating a platform for bilateral cooperation with other countries would continue to elude some African countries.

“Democracy is a process. We therefore call for the continuous understanding and support of our European partners on Africa’s path to democracy,” he said.

The forum, which discussed ways of making the partnership between Africa and Germany, and Europe in general more productive, had the theme, “Barriers to partnership- how to overcome them.”

It was attended by Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, German President, Horst Kohler, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso and Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian Prime Minister, along with Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission and 50 selected prominent personalities in politics, business, industry and civil society from across Africa and Europe.

Bethuel Kiplagat, Chairman of the African Peer Review Mechanism, in his remarks to open the discussions, cited rigid conditionalities attached to donor support and racial prejudices as some of the impediment to quality cooperation and partnership Africa and Europe.
For instance, he wondered why Africa was referred to as “third world” when there was no continent called second or first world.

Also, he said it was ironical that the West would want poorer countries to cancel subsidies to the agricultural sector before enjoying loan facilities, which the developed countries themselves heavily subsidise their agricultural production.

“True partnership requires all partners to be equal and deal with issues in mutual respect,” he said.