Form 5 General Studies (GS) Study Notes General Studies (GS) Study Notes Msomi Maktaba All Notes

Form 5 General Studies (GS) – INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS / COOPERATION

Regional organization

A. EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

The new East African community was established in 2000 by the three head of states of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda to replace and refund former EAC which collapsed in 1977.

Reasons for the demise of former East African community:-

  1. Differences in ideologues and economic status among member states, whereby Tanzania adopted socialism, Kenya continued with capitalist while Uganda was between socialism and Capitalism.
  2. Over throw of the Obote regime by Idd Amin Dada, Obote was a close friendly of Nyerere so he decided not, for cooperate with Idd Amin.

 

The situation created misunderstanding between Tanzania and Uganda; therefore it was difficult for E.A.C leaders to meet.

  1. The outbreak of war between Tanzania and Uganda in 1978/79.
  2. Difference in currency in terms of value. Kenyan currency was higher than the other two countries of the two member states.
  3. Dis-satisfaction among the member state that Kenya was benefited than other states. Kenya was economically, powerful than other states. This made other two states to be market of Kenyan’s industrial goods.
  4. East African development bank (EAPB) failed to meet its founder expectation there were many demands but the banks income was unable to meet the demands.

 

Formation of New East Africa Community:-

Objectives:-

  1. To attain sustainable growth and development of partner states by promotion of more balanced and harmonious development of member state.
  2. To strengthen and consolidate the cooperation in agreed fields that would lead to equitable economic development within the partner states which would intern lead to people‘s standard of living.
  3. To promote good governance and accountability.
  4. To promote sustainable utilization of national resources and protect the environment.
  5. To enhance and strengthen participation of private in the region.
  6. Peaceful settlement of dispute
  7. To establish custom union with common market, monetary union and ultimately a political federation.

 

Achievement of the new E.A.C

Over ten (10) years since its re-establishment the new E.A.C made several achievements

Follows:-

  1. The community has promoted political relationship within the member. Example Member counties formed the East Africa community parliament which among other things discussed political issues, also each member state has a ministry responsible for the E.A.C affairs.
  2. Culturally the  community has succeeded to enhance sports and Games – there are several regional competitions that have been introduced and are held on rotational basis.
  3. There are several projects initiated to improve communication and transportation example Road Networks.
  4. There is an increase in fall movement of people and labor among the members status example there are many Tanzania youths and pupils schooling in UGANDA also there are many Kenyans and Ugandans working in Tanzanians various sector such as Education, Hotel management, Banking, Tourism.
  5. The community has succeeded in making contribution to peace in the Great lakes region example; in DRC.
  6. There is flow of capital among the member state inform of investments. This has created employment opportunity hence improvements of people living standards.

 

PROBLEMS / CHALLENGES FACING THE NOW DAYS AFRICA:-

  1. Economic imbalance among member states, there is no effective and sustainable mechanism to address the imbalance.
  2. Insecurity and endless conflicts within and around the East Africa Region. Example, In Northern Uganda there are endless conflict between Government and Rebels.

 

SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC)

The meaning:-

This is an economic grouping that brings together countries of Southern and central Africa. This Association consists of 14 Africa countries namely:- Botswana, Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Sey challes, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Switzerland, Lesotho.

This was formed in 30th September 1993 to replace the former Southern Africa, Development coordination conference (SADC) which was established in 1980 by Nine (9) countries such as Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVES OF SADC

  1. To promote sustainable and equitable economic growth that will ensure poverty alleviation.
  2. To achieve complementarity between national and regional strategies and programmed.
  3. To promote common political values that are transmitted through institution that is democratic, legitimate and effective.
  4. To achieve sustainable utilization of natural resources and effective protection of the environment.
  5. To combat HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases or communicable diseases.
  6. To ensure gender mainstreaming in the process of community building.
  7. To develop and communicate system in order to stimulate agricultural and industrial development.
  8. To promote peace and security among the member states.

 

PRINCIPLES OF SADC:-

SADC and its member act in accordance with the full principles.

  1. Peace, solidarity and security.
  2. Sovereignty of all member states.
  3. Human rights, democracy and rule of law.
  4. Peaceful settlement of disputes.
  5. Equity, equality and mutual benefit.
  6. Promotion of economic welfare of the region.

 

ACHIEVEMENTS OF SADC:-

  1. Establishment of Regional Fund for HIV/AIDS. This is because approximately 15 million people in SADC region are HIV      POSITIVE.
  2. Peace stability – Since the Angola peace award (Great) in April 2002, the region has enjoyed a certain degree of political stability between MPCA Vs UNITA under Jonas Savimbi from 1970’s – 1990’s
  3. Economic growth – the Growth Development Programs (GDP) in the SADC region has increased from 27% in 2002 to 32% in 2004.
  4. Women representation in political and decision making position is increasing very fast in the SADC member states, the target was to get 30% of women representation in political by 2005 some member states have already reached the target.

 

               Example South Africa 31.3 %
               Mozambique 31. 3%
               Tanzania 30%

  1. Improvement in food security – The number of people who need food assistance is decreasing. Example In 2002 the number was 15.2 million people but in January 2004 the number drop out to 7%.

 

       6. It has managed to create political relationship among the member states; this has helped to create collective effort in solving   political conflicts in different countries.

  1. SADC has been cooperating with other organization on such as the AU so as to build strong unity and solidarity among African countries.

 

CHALLENGES FACING SADC:-

  1. Nationalism – some member state, cater for national interests first before SADC this undermines regional interests.
  2. Different levels of development – this leads to inequality in the nglish-swahili/distribution” target=”_blank”>distribution of benefits derived from SADC under taking example SA is stronger economically than the other member states.
  3. Weak financial base. Member states rely on foreign assistance which hinders SADC to become self reliant.
  4. Conflicts and wars in some member states e.g. Conflicts in DRC.
  5. Multi membership among member states. Some member states are also members of other regional integrations such as EAC and COMESA.
  6. Refugee problems, there is high influx of refugees in SADC region because of political instability in some member states.
  7. Lack of economic diversity, SADC member states produce similar goods mostly agricultural products hence difficult to secure markets.
  8. Low price of agricultural products in the world market.

 

THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATE (ECOWAS)

ECOWAS is an economic integration of West African states formed in 1975.

Its members include:-

– Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Cote dI vore, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bisau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.

Objectives of ECOWAS:-

  1. To promote cooperation and integration in economic, social and cultural activities.
  2. To raise the living standard, or its people.
  3. To enhance economic stability among the member states.
  4. To enable free movement of people, capital and service.
  5. To coordinate industrial development in order to avoid duplication of resources and capital.
  6. To harmonize agricultural policies and projects among the member states.
  7. To achieve the common market, research and food processing.

 

Achievements of ECOWAS:-

  1. Abolition of custom duties and tariffs on goods originating from West Africa.
  2. It has managed to solve some political disputes within the member states. E.g. it worked hard in restoring peace in Liberia after the outbreak of Civil wars. This was done through ECOWAS monitoring group known as ECOMOG.
  3. It has created free movement of principle within the region; this has enabled people to cross the boarders freely within the region.
  4. It has established different environmental conservation projects, in the region. E.g. In 1982 a ten years forestation projects were established.
  5. It has succeeded the peace keeping force known as ECOMOG.That force has been intervening to restore peace in West African countries such as:

 

  • Liberia (1990).
  • Siera Leone (1994).
  • Guinea Bissau (1998).

 

  1. It has promoted relations among member states hence enhancing political and economic stability.
  2. It has established a mechanism for conflicts prevention management and resolution.

 

Challenges facing ECOWAS:-

  1. Political instability. This makes difficult for the respective member states to implement the set objectives. As a result ECOWAS concentrates much effort and time in solving political problems.
  2. Economic dependence – The member states still rely on external aid to finance development projects. External assistance is normally accompanied by tough conditionality.
  3. Low level of science and technology. The member states are technologically backward. As a result they fail to utilize the available resources effectively.
  4. Different level of economic development. Some ECOWAS member states are economically powerful than others, this small powerful states dominate or influence the affairs of the organization.

 

      E.g. Nigeria has a dominant role in ruling ECOMOG and carried a big share of ECOMOG. This is because ECOMOG commanders have been predominantly Nigerian commander

  1. Nationalism:- Some members states cater for the national interest first before ECOWAS.
  2. Poor communication system, there is proper linkage of road and railway, most road are seasonal.
  3. Weak Financial base, most ECOWAS are poor economic base, this weak the organization to reach the state goals.

 

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