While the U.S.–Africa Summit met in Washington, D.C., last week, the world was reminded of several challenges faced by the African continent, as countries in West Africa battle the deadly Ebola virus and as Boko Haram attempts incursions into Cameroon as well as Nigeria. The response of the “international community” differs in each case; however, it has been as slow to respond to the Ebola virus as it was quick to offer military help to Nigeria as a counterpart to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. And we are reminded that Libya has descended into chaos since the United States, Britain, and France sent their warplanes, drones, and warships to depose the authoritarian regime of Muammar Gaddafi just a few years ago. The United States and Great Britain have evacuated their diplomatic personnel from Libya and issued travel warnings, yet little is being said about their responsibility in this chaotic situation. The Libyan tragedy, it may be argued, clearly demonstrates the limits of the militaristic response to African problems.
Joseph Stiglitz, former Nobel Laureate, invites us in his piece for the Financial Times, through a critique of this militarism, to think about sustainable venues for building a lasting partnership between the United States and the African continent. South African President Jacob Zuma, during a forum organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies, said that it’s about time to acknowledge that Africa is changing and that the narrative ought to changed. The meeting of 40 African heads of state with the Obama Administration this past week had a similar theme. The question is how to engage in egalitarian partnerships that are not founded on militarism, paternalism, or rapacious investment policies.