After 20 years, Rwanda has tremendously transformed its security phase to a more integrated, coordinated and highly competitive state or economy. However, the world and Africa in particular need not to forget the 1994 genocide but rather forge a way forward. Analytically, 1994 was also the year when South Africa officially ended political apartheid. In moving forward, post 1994 Africa is inevitably an interesting debate. Furthermore, 1994 also marks the UNDP Report that officially introduced the notion of human security.
Beyond Rwanda and within, Africa is faced with a mammoth task to restructure and reconfigure its security arrangement. Post cold war Africa must inevitably understand that conflict is now most likely to come from internal dissidence, aggression or discontent. Thus human security reminds us that nowadays security is based on development not arms. The state remains the provider of security but for the empowerment of citizenry not for enriching state apparatus that later turn menace to its own people. Louise Mushikiwabo, Foreign Minister of Rwanda argues that the genocide in Rwanda was’ the outcome of a methodical, state-orchestrated campaign … as a means to amass power.’ While some think the Rwandan genocide was caused merely by ethnic tension, it is however rational to argue contrary to such unfounded, unmethodical and complacent thought. It is the result of a dysfunctional state merely concerned with power than the responsibility to protect and provide a platform for justice in its entirety. A result of the state concerned with power as opposed to political and social consent. Simply put, conflict was left unabated leading to a genocide happening in front of the global face.
Imagine a situation where the state has capacity to respond to threats while the threat is indeed its own people. What do you do? Do you shoot your own people and turn against them? Well it is unfortunate that while we thought Africa was supposed to learn the lesson the hard way, some chose to close their eyes and turned deaf ears. The Marikana incident in South Africa evidently shows such negligence with approximately 44 people killed, 70 injured & 250 arrested in six days time. This is a result of a ‘paranoid’ State. The simple argument is that many a times, the African state becomes a menace to its own people by turning the apparatus of the state against its own people. Any reaction to discontent or dissidence must not be based on silencing dissent but rather providing a long term consensus. Ideally or well thought, it is important to have the ability to prevent a conflict through having an effective and efficient ‘early warning system.’ Legitimacy should not only be defined within the realm of popular vote or electoral democracy but also openness to debate & a platform for social interaction.
What is the point of having a strong capacitated state while the people or society is disempowered, weak and vulnerable? Security that is premised on individual liberties, openness and empowerment is most likely to remove the burden of security from the state and diffuse it to the collective responsibility of the general populace. It is time that African leaders are criticized for taking arbitrary decisions with the excuse of ‘national security.’ National security is not supposed to be turned into safeguarding the interests of a few paranoid elites concerned with power and control. Trust of state institutions is also pivotal. For example in Angola people used to mock their available choice shouting, ‘MPLA steals UNITA kills.’ Even political parties need internal democracy. This is fundamental because, some conflicts in Africa are caused by political disagreement more especially riots by opposition parties against arbitrary rule, organised crime and corruption. Peace and security defined only by merely the absence of war seem to limit and make countries complacent and forget about warning signs of dissent or discontent.
Interestingly, since 1999 Canada & Norway as lead catalysts for Human security network serve as a model to the world. The premise is that in an ‘increasingly interconnected world, the insecurity of others becomes a threat to our own security. It is therefore imperative for African States to incorporate human security into their agenda to build a sustainable foundation for peace and development. Africa cannot overemphasize territorial integrity over responsibility to protect and enhance sustainable freedom and development. For example, one of the reasons why the Rwandan 1994 genocide was left unabated is less interest or lack thereof from the international community. Due to such fallbacks, Africa has to place herself in a better position for freedom and collective security or face vulnerability and marginalisation. Thumbs up to Rwanda for such a colossal positive change. Today, Rwanda is one of the most globally competitive economies in Africa and the globe as a whole. Even for the African renaissance to succeed, the strengthening of civil society and social cohesion is pivotal. Therefore, human security seems near to a solution for a better Africa.
