SECURE AFRICA’S ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION FROM GEO-POLITICS

Peter Kagwanja

On November 26-28, 2018, the world converged in Nairobi for the Blue Economy Conference. Ecological civilization is the goal of all social and environmental reforms. In this regard, the Nairobi ocean economy summit set the agenda for the consolidation of an “ecological civilization” in African’s Indian Ocean seaboard. But the return of Cold War era geopolitics stands on the way of achieving an ecological civilization as a form of human civilization based on ecological principles and balancing the imperatives of productivity and sustainability. African countries should now strengthen their collective capacity to effectively govern their marine domains and secure the blue economy.

Africa Research Notes No. 43 December, 2018

Issue No. 43, December, 2018

Delegates leave the Tsavo ballroom after the end of the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference on November 28, 2018. It may have set the agenda for the consolidation of an “ecological civilisation” in Africa’s Indian Ocean seaboard. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

“We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental, Pope Francis wrote. “Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded and at the same time protecting nature”, he added.

Ecological civilization is the goal of all social and environmental reforms. The recently concluded Blue Economy Summit in Nairobi this on November 26-28, 2018 has set the agenda for the consolidation of an “ecological

civilization” in African’s Indian Ocean seaboard.But lingering geo-political rivalries and weak state capacity to secure and govern the maritime space remain major sticking points in the building of an “ecological civilization” integrating land-based and ocean economies. Scholars and analysts use “ecological civilization” to refer to a synthesis of economic, educational, political, agricultural, and other societal reforms balancing the imperatives of productivity and sustainability. It is a form of human civilization based on ecological principles, which results from

effective responses to social injustices and global climate disruption. It is the end state of social and environmental reform in a polity. For thousands of years, Africa’s Indian Ocean seaboard has been the convergence of civilizations, which have disrupted the emergence of a strong ecological civilization in the region.

The “Swahili civilization” marked the earliest attempt to establish an ecological civilization in Africa’s Indian Ocean coast. This marine civilization, established by the Bantu people who were joined by Arab merchants and traders, was flourishing by the first century AD, encompassing Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, the Islands of Zanzibar, Comoros and penetrated deep into Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Northern Zambia. The civilization’s affluence, beauty and power are well documented by the Moroccan Intellectual and traveler, Abu Abdullah ibn Battuta, who extensively toured the region in the 14th century.

Today, as in the past, local insecurities and external geo-political rivalries and interventions by major powers have continually undermined efforts to consolidate an ecological civilization in Africa’s Indian Ocean rim. It is against this historical backdrop that China is crafting its diplomacy in the Indian Ocean Belt, hoisted on three conceptual pillars. One is an appeal to history. In 2018, China celebrates 613 years since the famous Admiral and diplomat of its Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Zheng He, made seven expeditions to Western Indian ocean region between 1405 and 1433, including to the coasts of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and possibly Mozambique. Chinese diplomats and scholars stressing the peaceful encounters between the 5000-year old Chinese Civilization and African civilizations to

Issue No. 43,Africa Research Notes

December, 2018

Ecological civilization is the goal of all social and environmental reforms. The recently concluded Blue Economy Summit in Nairobi this on November 26-28, 2018 has set the agenda for the consolidation of an “ecological civilization” in African’s Indian Ocean seaboard.

counter the narrative of a clash of civilization and to project its ecological civilization model.

Second, China is showcasing its commitment to building partnerships for “ecological civilization.” Since 2007, “ecological civilization” has become an explicit goal of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and a core principle guiding its development. During a side event at the blue economy summit, Beijing’s Director General of National Marine Data and Information Service (NMDIS) in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mr. He Guangshun, placed Beijing’s ecological civilization model at the center of the blue economy debate. He expressed China’s commitment to inject “vitality into the global green and sustainability agenda.” Third is Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a development strategy adopted by President Xi Jinping involving infrastructure development and investments in countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. Besides the “the Silk Road Economic Belt” consisting of overland routes (road and rail transportation), the BRI initiative comprises of sea routes collectively known as the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road linking China to Western Indian Ocean Blue Economy estimated to be US$ 22 billion.

Portugal, which is set to co-host the United Nations Ocean’s Conference with Kenyain June 2020, is an integral actor in the story of the ebbs and flows of ecological civilization in Eastern Africa. Using their sophisticated technology including better and faster ships (carracks) well equipped for naval warfare, the Portuguese conquered and occupied the West Indian Ocean Coast for 200 years between 1500 and 1700—and actually remained in Mozambique for another 275 years.

Britain is another major power shaping the fortunes of ecological civilization in Eastern Africa. Discernibly, besides deepening its

transatlantic relations with America and Canada, Britain’s post-Brexitglobal strategy is to transform the Commonwealth clubinto a formidable economic bloc.

Comprising of 53 countries across all continents and a combined population of 2.3 billion people, almost a third of the world population (94% living in Asia and Africa combined). Ahead of the impending

withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) by 29 March 2019, the UK has already started pivoting towards the Indian Ocean, including all the five countries on Africa’s Indian Ocean Coast. With the resurgence of Cold War era geopolitics, a medley of isolationism, protectionism and populism threatens to undermine the emergence of a strong “ecological civilization” in the Indian Ocean.

Although the Donald Trump administration has drift toward isolationism, protectionism and anti-environmentalism partly to counter the dual challenge to its global dominance by China, Russia and the European Union, the United States has increased its footprints in the region.

Issue No. 43,Africa Research Notes

December, 2018

Ahead of the impending withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) by 29 March 2019, the UK has already started pivoting towards the Indian Ocean, including all the five countries on Africa’s Indian Ocean Coast.

Issue No. 43,Africa Research Notes

December, 2018

While a resurgent Russia is making serious inroads into Africa’s Indian Ocean Coast, the Gulf States are locked in fierce geo-strategic struggles over the region. The prospects of an ecological civilization in Africa depend on African countries bolstering their capacity to effectively govern their marine domains and secure the blue economy.

Professor Peter Kagwanja is former Government Adviser and currently Chief Executive of Africa Policy institute (Kenya) and Visiting Professor at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya.