(Hadalsame) 19 April 2020<\/strong><\/span> – Prominent thinkers urge continent’s leaders to use coronavirus pandemic crisis as opportunity to spur ‘radical change’.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dozens of prominent intellectuals, writers and academics from across Africa have co-signed an open letter addressed to the continent’s leaders, asking them to use the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to spur “radical change” in direction.<\/em><\/p>\n

“In the call, we urge African leaders to also think beyond the current crisis as a symptom of deep structural problems Africa has to confront if it is to become one day sovereign and an actor that contributes to the new global order,” Amy Niang, one of the academics behind the initiative, told Al Jazeera. “We are calling for a second independence.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Read the open letter below:<\/em><\/p>\n

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW:<\/strong>
\nLetter Addressed to African Leaders Concerning the COVID-19 Crisis<\/p>\n

The threats that are hanging over the African continent with regards to the spread of COVID-19 demand our individual and collective attention. The situation is critical. Yet this is not about mitigating another ‘African’ humanitarian crisis but to diffuse the potentially damaging effects of a virus that has shaken the global order and put under question the bases of our living-together.<\/p>\n

The coronavirus pandemic lays bare that which well-to-do middle classes in African cities have thus far refused to confront. In the past 10 years, various media, intellectuals, politicians and international financial institutions have clung to an idea of an Africa on the move, of Africa as the new frontier of capitalist expansion; an Africa on the path to ’emerging’ with growth rates that are the envy of northern countries. Such a representation, repeated at will to the point of becoming a received truth, has been torn apart by a crisis that has not entirely revealed the extent of its destructive potential. At the same time, any prospect of an inclusive multilateralism – ostensibly kept alive by years of treaty-making – is forbidding. The global order is disintegrating before our very eyes, giving way to a vicious geopolitical tussle. The new context of economic war of all against all leaves out countries of the Global South so to speak stranded. Once again we are reminded of their perennial status in the world order in-the-making: that of docile spectators.<\/p>\n

Like a tectonic storm, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to shatter the foundations of states and institutions whose profound failings have been ignored for too long. It is impossible to list these, suffice it to mention chronic under-investment in public health and fundamental research, limited achievements in food self-sufficiency, the mismanagement of public finances, the prioritization of road and airport infrastructures at the expense of human well-being. All of this has in fact been the object of an abundant specialized research, except that it seems to have escaped attention in spheres of governance on the continent. The management of the ongoing crisis constitutes a most glaring evidence of this gap.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div class=\"meta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/programmes\/insidestory\/2020\/04\/coronavirus-africans-china-targeted-200413185723311.html\">INSIDE STORY: Why are Africans in China being targeted? (24:25)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h2>On the necessity to govern with compassion<\/h2>\nAdopting the all-securitarian model of ‘containment’ of northern countries – often without much care to specific contexts – many African countries have imposed a brutal lockdown upon their populations; here and there, violation of curfew measures has been met with police violence. If such containment measures have met the agreement of middle classes shielded from crowded living conditions with some having the possibility to work from home, they have proved punitive and disruptive for those whose survival depends on informal activities.<\/p>\nLet’s be clear: we are not advocating an impossible choice between economic security vs. health security but we wish to insist on the necessity for African governments to take into account the chronic precarity that characterizes the majority of their populations. Yet, as a continent that is familiar with pandemic outbreaks, Africa has a head start in the management of large-scale health crises. However, it should gird itself against complacency.<\/p>\nHere and here, civil society organizations have shown tremendous solidarity and creativity. Despite however the great dynamism of individual actors, these initiatives could in no way make up for the chronic unpreparedness and the structural deficiencies that states themselves will have to mitigate. Rather than sit idle and wait for better fortune, we must endeavor to rethink the basis of our common destiny from our own specific historical and social context and the resources we have.<\/p>\nOur belief is that ’emergency’ cannot, and should not constitute a mode of governance. We must instead be seized by the real urgency, which is to reform public policy, to make them work in favor of African populations and according to African priorities. In short, it is imperative to put forth the value of every human being regardless of status, over and beyond any logic of profit-making, domination or power capture.<\/p>\n<div data-embed-type=\"Brightcove\" data-embed-id=\"6147451248001\">\n<table class=\"in-article-item video Fullwidth\" border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div class=\"mceVideoBox\">\n<div id=\"bcvid_6147451248001\">\n<div>\n<div><iframe src=\"https:\/\/players.brightcove.net\/665003303001\/SJg0bzqkZ_default\/index.html?videoId=6147451248001&usrPersonaAds=0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div class=\"meta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9xo2SEuj7sc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">INSIDE STORY: How will Africa deal with coronavirus? (25:05)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Beyond the state of emergency<\/h2>\nAfrican leaders can and should propose to their societies a new political idea of Africa. For this is a question of survival, fundamentally, and not a matter of rhetorical flourish. Serious reflections are needed on the functioning of state institutions, on the function of a state and the place of juridical norms in the distribution and the balancing of power. This is best achieved on the basis of ideas adapted to realities across the continent. The realization of the second wave of our political independence will depend on political creativity as well as our capacity to take charge of our common destiny. Once again, various isolated efforts are already bearing fruit. They deserve to be heeded, debated and amply encouraged.<\/p>\nFurthermore, PanAfricanism also needs a new lease of life. It has to be reconciled with its original inspiration following decades of shortcomings. If progress on continental integration has been slow, the reason has much to do with an orientation informed by the orthodoxy of market liberalism. In consequence, the coronavirus pandemic reveals the deficit of a collective continental response, both in the health and other sectors. More than ever, we call upon leaders to ponder the necessity to adopt a concerted approach to governance sectors related to public health, fundamental research in all disciplines and to public policy. In the same vein, health has to be conceived as essential public good, the status of health workers needs to be enhanced, hospital infrastructure need to be upgraded to a level that allows everybody, including leaders themselves, to receive adequate treatment in Africa. Failure to implement these reforms would be cataclysmic.<\/p>\nThis letter is a small reminder, a reiteration of the obvious: that the African continent must take its destiny back into its own hands. For it is in the most trying moments that new\/innovative orientations must be explored and lasting solutions adopted.<\/p>\nThe present letter is addressed to leaders of all walks of life; to the people of Africa and to all those that are committed to re\/thinking the continent. We invite them to seize the opportunity of the coronavirus crisis to joint efforts in rethinking an African state in the service of the well-being of its people, to break with a model of development based on the vicious cycle of indebtedness, to break with the orthodox vision of growth for the sake of growth, and of profit for the sake of profit.<\/p>\nThe challenge for Africa is no less than the restoration of its intellectual freedom and a capacity to create – without which no sovereignty is conceivable. It is to break with the outsourcing of our sovereign prerogatives, to reconnect with local configurations, to break with sterile imitation, to adapt science, technology and research to our context, to elaborate institutions on the basis of our specificities and our resources, to adopt an inclusive governance framework and endogenous development, to create value in Africa in order to reduce our systemic dependence.<\/p>\nMore crucially, it is essential to remember that Africa has sufficient material and human resources to build a shared prosperity on an egalitarian basis and in respect of the dignity of each and everyone. The dearth of political will and the extractive practices of external actors can no longer be used as excuse for inaction. We no longer have a choice: we need a radical change in direction. Now is the time!<\/p>\n<h3>Have signed:<\/h3>\nWole Soyinka (Nobel Prize in Literature 1986) \nMakhily Gassama (Essayist) \nCornel West (Princeton University) \nKwame Anthony Appiah (New York University) \nHenry Louis Gates Jr (Harvard University) \nCheikh Hamidou Kane (Writer) \nOdile Tobner (Librairie des Peuples Noirs, Cameroon) \nIva Cabral (daughter of Amilcar Cabral, University of Mindelo) \nOlivette Otele (Bristol University) \nBoubacar Boris Diop (American University of Nigeria) \nSiba N’Zatioula Grovogui (Cornell University) \nV\u00e9ronique Tajdo (Writer) \nFrancis Nyamnjoh (University of Cape Town) \nIbrahim Abdullah (Fourah Bay College) \nSean Jacobs (The New School) \nOumar Ba (Morehouse College) \nMaria Paula Meneses (Coimbra University) \nAmadou Elimane Kane (PanAfrican Institute of Culture and Research) \nInocencia Mata (University of Lisbon) \nAnthony Obeng (The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning) \nAisha Ibrahim (Fouray Bay College) \nMakhtar Diouf (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nKoulsy Lamko (Writer) \nMahamadou Lamine Sagna (American University of Nigeria) \nCarlos Nuno Castel-Branco (Economist, Mozambique) \nTouriya Fili-Tullon (University of Lyon 2) \nKako Nubupko (University of Lome) \nRosania da Silva (University Foundation for the Development of Education) \nAmar Mohand-Amer (CRASC, Oran) \nMame Penda Ba (Gaston Berger University of St Louis) \nMedhi Alioua (International University of Rabat) \nRama Salla Dieng (University of Edinburgh) \nYoporeka Somet (Philosopher, Egyptologist, Burkina Faso) \nGazibo Mamoudou (University of Montreal) \nFatou Kine Camara (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nJonathan Klaaren (University of the Witwatersrand) \nRosa Cruz e Silva (Agostinho Neto University) \nIsmail Rashid (Vassar College) \nAbdellahi Hajjat (Free University of Brussels) \nMaria das Neves Baptista de Sousa (Lusiada University of Sao Tome e Pr\u00edncipe) \nLazare Ki-Zerbo (Philosopher, Guyana) \nLina Benabdallah (Wake Forest University) \nIolanda Evora (University of Lisbon) \nKokou Edem Christian Agbobli (The Universite du Quebec a Montreal) \nOpeyemi Rabiat Akande (Harvard University) \nLouren\u00e7o do Rosario (Mozambique Polytechnic University) \nIssa Ndiaye (University of Bamako) \nYolande Bouka (Queen’s University) \nAdama Samake (Felix Houphouet Boigny University) \nBruno Sena Martins (Coimbra University) \nCharles Ukeje (University of Ile Ife) \nIsaie Dougnon (Fordham University) \nCl\u00e1udio Alves Furtado (Federal University of Bahia, University of Cap-Verde) \nEbrima Ceesay (University of Birmingham) \nRita Chaves (University of Sao Paulo) \nBenaouda Lebdai (Le Mans University) \nGuillaume Johnson (CNRS, Paris-Dauphine) \nAyano Mekonnen (University of Missouri) \nThierno Diop (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nMbemba Jabbi (University of Texas) \nAbdoulaye Kane (University of Florida) \nMuhammadu M.O. Kah (American University of Nigeria & University of the Gambia) \nAlpha Amadou Barry Bano (University of Sonfonia) \nYacouba Banhoro (University of Ouaga 1 Joseph Ki-Zerbo) \nDialo Diop (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nRahmane Idrissa (African Studies Center, Leiden) \nEl Hadji Samba Ndiaye (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nBenabbou Senouci (University of Oran) \nJos\u00e9 Lu\u00eds Cabaco (Universidade Tecnica de Mocambique) \nMouhamadou Ngouda Mboup (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nHassan Remanoun (University of Oran) \nSalif Diop (Universite Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar) \nNarciso Matos (Mozambique Polytechnic University) \nMame Thierno Cisse (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nDemba Moussa Dembele (ARCADE, Senegal) \nMany Camara (University of Angers) \nIbrahima Wane (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nThomas Tieku (King’s University College, Western University) Jibrin Ibrahim (Center for Democracy and Development) \nEl Hadji Samba Ndiaye (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nJose Luis Cabaco (Technical University of Mozambique) \nFiroze Manji (Daraja Press) \nMansour Kedidir (CRASC, Oran) \nAbdoul Aziz Diouf (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nMohamed Nachi (University of Liege) \nAlain Kaly (Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro) \nLast Dumi Moyo (American University of Nigeria) \nHafsi Bedhioufi (University of Manouba) \nAbdoulaye Niang (Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis) \nRobtel Neajai Pailey (University of Oxford) \nSlaheddine Ben Frej (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciencees of Tunis) \nVictor Topanou (Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, B\u00e9nin) \nPaul Ugor (Illinois State University) \nDjibril Tamsir Niane (Writer) \nLaroussi Amri (University of Tunis) \nKarine Ndjoko Ioset (University of Wuerzburg and University of Lubumbashi) \nMagueye Kassa (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar) \nLionel Zevounou (Paris Nanterre University) \nAmy Niang (University of Witwatersrand) \nNdongo Samba Sylla (Economist, Senegal)<\/p>\nSource: Aljazeera<\/p>\nHadalsame Media<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(Hadalsame) 19 April 2020 – Prominent thinkers urge continent’s leaders to use coronavirus pandemic crisis as opportunity to spur ‘radical change’. Dozens of prominent intellectuals, writers and academics from across Africa have co-signed an open letter addressed to the continent’s leaders, asking them to use the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43494,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Namnl\u00f6s-46.png?fit=1235%2C663&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Xl2P-bjv","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43493"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43493"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43495,"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43493\/revisions\/43495"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hadalsame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}