North Korea in a state of war with South Korea

North Korea to enter 'state of war' against South Korea

The rise and rise of Tanzania as a regional economic hegemon

Tanzania has historically played a second fiddle in the East African region behind Kenya. Tanzania's foreign policy over the years has been based on its strong cooperation with the East and the Non-Aligned Movement. Tanzania's ideology has been that of a socialist democracy dictated by the ideals of humanity, equality, brotherliness and good neighborliness. Under the founding father Julius Nyerere, Tanzania practiced the Ujamaa ideology, a brand of Socialism which Nyerere termed as "Tanzania's unique socialism". The Ujamaa ideology was aimed at fostering national cohesion, self reliance and independence through the virtues of humanity. With this brand, Tanzania's close allies were Cuba, China and the now defunct USSR and currently Russia. Tanzania worked in close partnership with these nations whilst playing a non-aligned pragmatic foreign policy. Nyerere was good at this. 

With the triumph of capitalist liberal democracy that saw 'the end of history' as elucidated by Francis Fukuyama, Tanzania adopted open market liberal economic approaches. With this, Tanzania opened up for global investments and direct trade with financial institutions which Nyerere had once rebuffed as neo-imperilist tools. Whilst this happened, Tanzania carried out its foreign relations in a very pragmatic and strategic manner. Tanzania's foreign policy was anchored on African liberation during the 1960s and 1970s. Tanzania played a leadership role in the fight for African liberation not only political liberation but also economic. Tanzania criticized the Apartheid regime in South Africa and played a leading role in fronting for peaceful coexistence and settlement of disputes in Africa and beyond.

Tanzania is now at a critical juncture in mapping out its future. With the drafting of a new constitution, Tanzania is joining the league of African nations that are rethinking their future through the drafting of a new legal regime. I trust that the Constitutional body is doing a good job. Tanzania is also experiencing a resource boom. With plenty of natural gas, uranium, coal, oil and other energy resources, Tanzania is been seen as rising economic giant within the region. There is no doubt that Tanzania is at the behest of greatness. With investors wooing Tanzania, right-left and center, it is a manifestation of good times ahead. The new Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting the country in what political pundits see as expanding of China-Tanzania relations. The Chinese government brings investment opportunities and trade to Tanzania. They enter into partnerships with the Tanzanian government in areas of infrastructure, health, education, trade etc. This is good for Tanzania. Chinese investments are 'unconditional' and due to historical ties, will benefit both countries. Western countries are also competing for a stake in Tanzania's riches. This is great news. With disciplined and shrewed leadership, Tanzania stands to greatly benefit. I have no doubt that US President will visit Tanzania just like his two predecessors, George Bush and Bill Clinton. This is the rise of Tanzania.   

Rest in Peace Chinua Achebe, the doyen of African Literature

I have learned of the passing of the great African literature guru, Chinua Achebe. I remember Chinua Achebe for his classic novels of "A Man of the People", "Things Fall Apart", "Arrow of God", "Anthills of Savannah", "No longer at ease". I have had the privilege of reading a couple of his books. Chinua Achebe was the doyen of African literature. Achebe is man who achieved a lot during his early years of academic life. As my professor puts it, "it was not for his excellence that he achieved all success". My professor quickly reminds me of how Achebe got a third degree honors in his class. He was not the brightest in his class. He was fortunate to have written these books at a time when the world was dominated by Western literature. A new wave of African literature beckoned with his works. There is no doubt, the works by Achebe lit up the African narrative of African literature. He wrote on the role of culture in Africa and the social and political significance of aesthetics and analysis of the postcolonial state in Africa. His works, especially, "Things fall Apart" became the blueprint of literature scholarship in Africa. 

I recently read his book on the "Trouble with Nigeria"(1983). This book examined what Achebe terms as the 'failure of leadership'. This inspiring book aimed to challenge the resignation of Nigerians and inspire them to reject old habits which inhibit Nigeria from becoming a modern and attractive country.The insights of the book were not only relevant to Nigeria as a case point but to the continent as a whole. The failure of leadership coupled with rampant corruption, ethnicity, nepotism, anarchy etc have all plagued the continent. In a recent discussion with my friends, we thought Achebe could have rewritten the book to capture the continental baggage of the above mentioned vices, which have sadly not changed. Rest well Chinua Achebe. The world celebrates you.

Why Gen Ntaganda turned himself in

The US State Department has confirmed that wanted Congolese warlord Gen Bosco Ntaganda is in custody in the US Embassy in Kigali after he turned in himself and ‘specifically asked to be transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). This came after the Rwanda's Foreign Minister  Louise Mushikiwabo categorically denied allegations by Kinshasa that Ntaganda was in Rwanda. The 'surrender' by General Ntaganda who is known to many as the 'terminator' has sparked debate on the role of Rwanda in the Congo war. Ntaganda who is the leader of the majority Tutsi rebel group of M23 turned himself in to the US Embassy in Kigali and asked to be transferred to the Hague. Ntaganda is wanted for numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity by the ICC. The Rwandan government led by their foreign minister has been denying that they 'host' general Ntaganda. Kinshasa government Spokesman, Mr Lambert Mende has said it all along that Ntaganda was in Rwanda. Madam Mushikiwabo has always denied it to the extent of attacking Mr Mende by asking him if "Its the only thing that was in his mind"

Now that he has surrendered, one can deduce a number of conclusions. It is now hard to believe that Rwanda was not hosting Gen Ntaganda. The Rwandan government which is also led by majority Tutsi could have been using 'the terminator' in waging war in Eastern Congo for their national interests. It can be also deduced that the government of Rwanda were pushed hard by the United States to surrender the man who was in no doubt in Rwanda. The gimmicks by the foreign minister must have been brushed off by the US government and ordered to surrender the man. The US government must have made demands to Kigali, which if not met, 'there could be no business as usual'. 

The US Embassy in Kigali is a few metres from the Office of the President and Ministry of Internal Security. One can best judge from this proximate distances between the three offices. Your guess is as good as mine.

All politics is local? Why International Relations then?

 Nicodemus Minde

They say all politics is local, or rather all politics is domestic. As a student of international politics, this saying could mean I wasted four years of my undergraduate studies plus other two for my graduate studies. After meditating on the phrase for a long time through inspired reading and philosophical and epistemological analysis, I think I got a counter phrase or rather a complementary phrase. Yes, indeed, all politics is local but after reading an article on Al Monitor, the Middle East website on "What Russia learned from the Iraq War" I can confidently say that "all politics is local. All international politics is a derivative of jostling for hegemonic status either regionally, continentally or in many occasions global". 

The pursuit of individual freedoms, justice and rule of law as embedded in the DNA of American constitution is local politics. The desire to push this enduring tenets to a global audience either through implicit or explicit tactics is what can be termed as international politics. When Putin was quizzed over Russia's position on the Iraq War 10 years ago, he said it was their problem. This is despite the fact that Russia as a global player should have positioned itself with 'the allied forces' against the forces of evil or 'axis of evil'. This then, is how domestic politics plays the role of international politics. When America supported the "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine yet Russia had publicly declared they would work best with George Bush and not John Kerry during the elections, the concept of internationalization of domestic politics manifested itself. A great read from Middle East Al Monitor has opened my international relations eyes wider. Thank God for daily insights.   

Zimbabwe vote in a crucial constitutional referendum

@decolanga: Zimbabweans to vote in a constitutional referendum http://po.st/lTgHZB. #Zimbabwe #Africa Shared via TweetCaster

Capitalism is the way of the devil and exploitation-Chavez

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died Tuesday afternoon, succumbing to a long battle with cancer and bringing to a close a tumultuous political career that reshaped Latin American politics. Speaking through tears, Chavez's hand-picked heir, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro, announced the news on state television. 

There is no doubt that Hugo epitomized the essence of charisma. He was a leader loved by everyone in Venezuela. It is no doubt however, that he was highly detested by the US due to his socialist stance and his anti imperialism belief. He mobilized the working class of Venezuela and led a leftist socialist revolution that he termed as the Bolivarian Revolution after the revolutionary leader of Venezuela and Latin America Simon Bolivar. 

Reading from various Western media, it is evident that Hugo Chavez was their greatest enemy. There are unverified reports that his cancer was actually injected to him by the West. Today, we mourn the death of a man who defied all odds to emancipate his people, to defy Western imperialism and renounce Western ideals that are seen as absolute and final. A country is as successful as its people's happiness and not judged by Western standards. The Time Magazine describe him as the dogmatic and authoritarian 21st century demagogue and compares him to  Fidel Castro, whom they also describe as "Cuba’s former dictator". Chavez despised and mocked the capitalist model and saw it as an evil system that rides on the back of the poor and creates enormous levels of inequality. There is little debate on that. 

Fare the well, Hugo.