A former UN Undersecretary General, Ibrahim Gambari, has warned African leaders of a brewing new Cold War, threatening to divide its nations along geopolitical lines by the world super powers. Mr Gambari, a professor and former minister of foreign affairs, made this known yesterday at the Realnews Conference held in Lagos. The text of his presentation was shared with media men, where the professor highlighted Africa’s precarious position in a rapidly shifting global order.
The lecture titled; “Africa in World Shifting Geopolitics: Matters Arising on Demography, Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Natural Resources,” Mr Gambari enjoined Africans leaders “to take a step back and reflect on the contours of change around us and also see that as an invitation to begin to seriously think through their implications for our immediate future and long-term interest.”
The diplomat pointed out that international politics dynamism is on high momentum of transforming the workings of the international system while nations, big and small, north and south, are busy preparing themselves to ensure that they are neither left behind nor reduced to victims of the new order that is at the horizon.
The former minister noted the growing militarisation of global powers around the globe scampering for territories, with investments spanning advanced weaponry, space, and cyberspace. Saying; “A relentless militarisation is taking place” across the world, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Arctic to the Antarctic, on land, in the air, on the seas, and in outer space.
Africa being rich in natural resources and strategically located, has become the chosen battleground for the global power struggle, he said.
Advanced militaries are scheming for prime locations around the world that offer some form of strategic advantage. Mr Gambari said and considering the abundance of such strategic sites in Africa, he revealed it’s not a surprise that Africa has become the target of competitive bids from the big and middle powers setting up military bases around.
The Rio Times reports that foreign military bases are proliferating across the continent. These bases serve not only security interests but also function as platforms for controlling Africa’s natural wealth and arable land. Experts say this represents a modern echo of colonial ambitions.
A clear example is Djibouti, strategically located near the Red Sea. It hosts Camp Lemonnier, the United States’ only permanent base in Africa, alongside China’s first overseas military installation, established in 2017.
Gambari explained, “We know that the entire seaboard of Africa is already dotted with military bases operated by various powers; the continent is once again at the centre of a scramble as the new Cold War intensifies. In addition to geo-strategic considerations in the event of conflicts and war, there are strong interests in securing access to and control of strategic and critical minerals and arable land and forests”.
The kwara state born academician turn politician also noted that competitive investments are being made in building stable and durable political alliances with the governments of various countries and that the age of “zero-sum geopolitics” is back with all its destabilising consequences for African countries.
He added, foreign military formations in Africa symbolise a broader competition for influence with nations like France, Germany, India, and the UK expanding their military presence on the continent. China and Russia have emerged as central players in this geopolitical game.
As Chinese infrastructure investments and debt relief is targeted to consolidate political alliances, on the flip side, Moscow provides weapons and military support to various regimes. Their growing influence underscores Africa’s increasing importance in global geopolitics.
In the entire struggle he said, Africa holds a significant demographic advantage with a young and growing population. stressed that this potential remains underutilised due to persistent economic struggles.
“With well over a billion people and with an overwhelmingly youthful population, Mr Gambari said the African continent is destined for a significant role in the demographics of the world at a time when populations are both declining and ageing rapidly in many other parts of the world.”
He believes that taking advantage of the African demographic dividend in a renewed season of new global geopolitics effectively means that African countries “must build national and regional strategies to leverage the energy, innovative acumen, and futuristic vision of its young people in order to ensure that as a new world order takes shape, we are positioned to be joint rule makers.”
The former minister also urged African leaders to utilise the continent’s talent and human resources to its advantage just like the global powers.
“Although there is no doubt that we are in the throes of rapid, complex, multidimensional change in global affairs, it is equally important to know that the outcomes of the ongoing geopolitical shifts are not necessarily destined to be at the expense of or to the detriment of our people and continent. That means that we must be ready to harness our abundant human and natural resources to leapfrog our development in order to achieve the structural transformation that has eluded us for too long.”
“It also means that we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while the rules of a new world order are being written; we have the opportunity to insist on being joint rule makers so that the new global order that is being forged reflects our values and aspirations for a fairer, more inclusive, and equitable world.
“In this, we must ensure that our youth bulge is turned into an advantage that puts us at the forefront of the digital economy and the innovations underpinning it,” Mr Gambari concluded.