Global Security Challenges As Connotes To Nigeria, Global South And The World—
For the attention of Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and Minister of Finance and Economic Coordination Wale Edu, politicians, politics students/IR and other interested readers——-
By Abbati Bako,psc,bsis,Uk
abbatibako@gmail.com
09077889959
The current global security challenges has been the most fundemental issue to be addressed in the United Nations General Assembly this year 2024 especially the issue of war between Russia and Ukraine which affected global economic interplay which Nigeria, Africa and other Global South has been badly Affected.
Insecurity has been affecting Nations of the World especially African Countries. Nigeria, Mali, DRC, Somalia, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Sudan and many more.
Although there are other issues such as economic meltdown as a result of COVID-19 two years ago that affected General Global Economic Interplay higher than 1948 and 2008 and the world lost about five Trillions of Dollars; hence African nations has been badly affected more than any other Continent of the World; Africa has less than 2% of global economies despite the huge resources deported in the Continent. DRC, Nigeria African Nations is an excellent example on deposited resources.
Also, the issue of global warming that flood affected many parts of the World especially in Pakistan last year and more than 1000 people were perished. Also in Nigeria (especially Northern Nigeria last year was badly affected and hundred of people were killed by the flood) and wide gap between the Northern parts of the World and the Southern parts. But security challenges is Paramount to be tackled and UN must act ASAP especially in most African Nations and other Global South.
Africa is the most resourceful Continent in the world with 17 percent of global population. For example, Nigeria is the most populous Nation in Africa with over 2029m (as protected by UN) population and number 6 oil producing Nation/6 most populous nation in the World) and global top ten markets for investors. But the country has not been in peace since independence in 1960. From civil war between 1967 to 1970 to five successful coup d’etat and many attempts. And again, the huge debt into the tune of Billions of Dollars (although China promised to clear the debt of the 17 countries of Africa).
But what experts are asking is why? Nigeria has been operating Democractic System for the past 25 years uninterrupted and the System never solve the problems of the people of Nigeria? The country Nigeria and it’s people are experiencing security challenges, economic aridity and stagflation. Can the UN solve the problems of Nigerians and other African nations before the year 2030 especially on economy, security and food availability? The United Nations has that 60% of Nigerians will face food scarcity if care has not been taken. Wha are the plans of the current Tinubu’s government on addressing this issue? What will be the fate of the current transitional democratic system in Nigeria? Can the system survive in Nigeria and other African countries?
*Hurray for Nigerians!
The Minister of Finance Mr. Wale Edun have said yesterday that the country will join the proposed one currency in West African Economic Subregion. This is a very welcome development in West Africa and the African Continent as a whole. Meaning that this policy may change the color (positively) of Nigerian economic growth and less dependency on World Bank and IMFas well as Paris Club, London Club and other global financial institutions. For the past years the Euro Currency stabilizes the economy of European Nations and saved the economies of Spain and Portugal some years ago. Therefore, lone currency in West African Countries may help a lot in the years to come and again if African Countries join the BRICS NATIONS as currently did by Egypt and Ethiopia.
*NIGERIA IS NOT ALONE IN SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE WORLD AND THE POWER OF UNITED NATIONS ON PEACE KEEPING OPERATION—–
The peacekeeping Operations has been an important political issue since the formation of United Nations in 1945 after the Second World War. The importance attached to this gigantic work; scholars and experts have written so much about it. It has been agreed that, peacekeeping operations is one of the major development that has not been directly reflected in UN Charter since the formulation and implementation of the Chater. It was about two weeks ago that the United Nations directed the Kenyan army to go to Haiti for peace keeping operations. But why no chapter that addressing the issue of peace keeping operation in the United Nations’ Chater?
There is no clear cut Chapter in UN Charter which a word “Peacekeeping” is mention therein. In Chapter V1 Article 37.2 there is no word “peacekeeping”. What happened then? But some experts argues that, Chapter V11 Articles 41 and 42 can be applied to re-store and maintain peace and stability in any Nation around the World (Russia and Ukraine war may have been a fundemental point in that case).
Still there is no specific or direct answer to “peacekeeping operations” in case of breach of peace, act or aggression against any Nation in the World. Although some analysts suggests that, Chapter X11 of UN Charter “The Responsibility to Protect” can give purposeful guidance on “Peacekeeping Operation” (Simon C. 2004 ed.) but still there are needs to amend or reform the UN Charter especially at this time of Globalism.
So, the argument made by Russian’s officials was on the right way. The idea to go into any Nation’s territorial integrity breaches the UN charter (what of the current Russian attack in Ukraine?) This writing understands that for sure UN Secretary General must be aware of that.
Therefore, amendment must be made immediately. The President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other South-South Nations of the World should insist on the amendment and that might solve the problems of insecurity in Africa and other Asians countries and even in Eastern European Nations.
The discourse to amend the UN Charter to create a military and police force directly under United Nation’s control has been a subject of discussions since the formations of United Nations. The former Canadian Foreign Minister Lester B. Pearson once suggested in 1956 after the invasion of Suez and crises broke out that, the need for “a truly international peace and police force” (Simon C. 2004, Pp103, We The People).
The late former United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld Located in the interstices between the peace coercive measures available to the Security Council- “Chapter V1 & 1/2 as he famously called it” Simon C. 2004, “You the Peoples” (Pp103) this writing understand that, it is surprising or confusing as to why the fast leaders of UN ignored the importance of Peace keeping operations, and not being mentioned in the UN’s Charter? Why, why, why? That must be asked by scholars and students of politics and international relations (IR).
While most nations of the World suffered tremendously in fighting wars and conflicts, Europe suffered worst than any Part of the World and currently African Nations of the Southern Parts of the world. Sudan is currently affected by war with about 9m refugees also in the Gaza Strip of the Middle East.
“The action lay in Chapter six and a half as Dag Hammarskjöld and Lester Pearson were shaping it, initially to constrain the folly of two of the Permanent Members- Britain and France- at Suez, then to ease the process of decolonization and keep it, as far as possible, out of the cold war and, in so doing giving the Secretary, for a while a free eminent role in peace and security matters in the UN frame work” (Professor A.J.R. Groom, University of Kent, UK, 2007.
This clearly indicated that, the fast UN leaders neglected to amend UN Charter to signify the importance of peace keeping operations, just to serve the interest of (then) the ‘big three”.
“At San Francisco Conference that led to the adoption of the Charter in 1945, Norway proposed to amend the Chapter V11 enforcement powers of the Council to provide that it should, in special cases, temporarily assume the administration of a territory if the administration of the occupant state it self represented a threat to the peace.” Simon C. 2004, You the Peoples, Pp50.
By and large, if the proposal suggested by Norway at that time was accepted, the issues of Chapter six and a half would have been a history and will never been mentioned throughout these decades of the United Nations existence.
*Success story of the United Nations
Since the inceptions of United Nation in 1945 there have been lots of success stories about peacekeeping operations around the world. Peacekeeping operations in some Countries like Lebanon, Cambodia, Rwanda, Sere Leon, Liberia, East Timor, Kosovo, Cyprus, Angola, Namibia, Western Sahara and many more, were mostly success story.
“The capacity of UN in its economic and social work, and its management of peacekeeping and post conflict reconstruction has expanded since 1990” (Baylis J. 2008/2022 fourth ed) . But why the current current global insecurity neglected and failed to be addressed by the United Nations?
Also, UN in Namibia 1989- 1990, Cambodia 1992- 1993 “involving 22,000 military and civilian personnel at a cost of 1.6 billion USD over its eighteen months operations” Simon C.2004, Pp.73, and Eastern Slovenia in 1996- 1998, are all a success stories. All these will go into history as an achievements and developments in building peace keeping among the Nations of the World.
Mission in Kosovo in 1999 and East Timor in 1999- 2002 has been written in history with the golden pen in UN Peacekeeping operations, and efforts made by the UN to build Government activities by using institutions in those Nations is also a commendable efforts.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has ended in recent years but the UN efforts to maintain peace and stability and sustain democratic practice are major developments, but can these two countries be called a success story? USA has just left the two troubled nations without involvement of United Nations. What were the achievements? What of Libya since Arabs spring in 2011?
The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) must be commended (despite the lack of clear cut law backing in UN’s Charter) for their tireless efforts to keep the World at peace. Although they used to suffer from traumatic pains, including the killing of their personnel in October 2009 in Iraq and even the historic killing of 250 of their staff (including Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld) in Congo in early 1960s. They (UN) must learn lesson from the past as why they suffered such casualties? And preventive measures must be taken in the future. ”Peacekeeping, is not a job for soldiers, but only a soldier can do it” Dag Hammarskjöld (late). Had it been that the United Nations is aware of its losses in the past decades the current lost of its 130 staff in Gaza Strip might not happened.
Although that if peacekeeping operations measures were not taken by the UN in some Countries of the World, some wars and conflicts would have last for decades. This writing understands the needs viewed by some Scholars and Experts in security and international relationship (IR) that, amendment must be made in UN Charter to ensure establishments of UN military personnel, directly under the DPKO, or Security Council.
“If the Security Council at present time does reflect in a crude way the global military structure, it is intended that there should be an element of geographical representation from all regions” (A.J.R. Groom, 2007, University of Kent, UK).
*The failure of United Nations—–
Whenever there is success, there may be failure. There are some questions need to be asked. Why UN failed in Somalia, Daffur, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaza Strip and Sudan? And why United Nations have succeeded in Kosovo, Cyprus and Lebanon? What guaranty does the UN have for peace-keeping to succeed in Syria and Gaza Strip?
On African continent what will be the thought of future Leaders of Africa? It is a fact; democracy is not shining in Africa this time around (due economic hardship and security challenges) Nigeria, Sudan, Burkina Faso, DRC, Senegal, Kenya, Niger, Mali, are good examples. You can count some military regimes in Africa today. Hence, global policy on Africa must be reconsidered, especially on economic precarity and security of food/want. Africa has about 35% of global resources and 17% of global population. Especially my country Nigeria that consist of 2 and a half percent of global population which is why is the most resourceful country in Africa and attractive to huge investments from around the World.
“The spread of elections and peace settlements in the World’s most volatile Countries may lead to a brave new democratic World, in the meantime, though, nasty and protracted civil wars, military coups, and failing economies will plague the bottom billion- unless national sovereignty is curtailed and economic disciplines introduced” P. Collier.2009 ed (Wars, Guns and Votes, democracy in dangerous places). Hence, this writing is on the same page with Professor Paul Collier of Oxford University, London in that respect. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso is the current reality of Professor Paul Collier’s assertion in his book in 2009.
Are the World leading Nations in UN having no interest in those nations failed by UN peacekeeping Operations? If yes,what were (their) interest in Kosovo and Cyprus? Also in Cambodia? If Kosovo and Cyprus are in Europe, What of Cambodia and East Timor?
Somalia is a failed State for about three decades, Why the UN kept silent? Although there is improvement in Somalia but what of Southern Sudan and Darfur?
But the role played by UN in Rwanda was not as much as it did in former Yugoslavia, because Rwanda is in Africa and Yugoslavia in Europe? Although Rwanda is now peaceful and prosperous Nation among African Countries. Kudos for the President Kagami. So, Rwanda is a Shining Star amongst African Nations today in recent years due to patriot and serialized planning and strategic leadership based on calendar time frame.
In Labor Party Conference (Congratulations to Labour Party in UK for their elections success 2024 after 14 years without government) in October 2001, Prime Minister Tony Blair’s address on “Ethical Foreign Policy” speech, he pledge international action against the Taliban, he went further, proclaiming a moral duty to intervene across the World, wherever necessary- in Kosovo or even in Central Africa. “If Rwanda happened again today, as it did in 1993, he said where a million people were slaughtered in cold blood, we would have a moral duty to act there also” he declared. In this respect, one might asked as whether foreign policy matter is really about morality or interest?
*Africa and United Nations’s Duties In African Countries——–
But there are many problems in Africa and it’s the duty of UN and other global political and economic stakeholders to act ASAP.
One time Foreign Secretary of Britain Lord Palmerrston, once said “We have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interest is perpetual and eternal and those interests it’s our duty to follow”. And again, the issue of Rwanda is now a history, what of Daffur today? What of Somalia? What of insurgency in Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Burkina, Chad and Democratic Republic Of Congo (DRC) and others?
Further more; the Blair’s Government approach to the meaning of globalization is no country can afford to ignore famine, war or human right abuses in anywhere in the World. He went on to that, “When Milosevic embarked on the ethnic cleansing of Muslim in Kosovo we acted. The skeptics said it was pointless, we had make matters worst, we had make Milosevic stronger, and look what happened. We now won, the refugees went home, the policies of ethnic cleansing, were reversed and one of the great dictators of the last century will see the justice in this Century.” Sincerely, the dictator has been jailed, indeed.
The UN Charter, Chapter 1. Article 1. 2. 3 and 4 are clear on the purposes of United Nations. Also, Article 2.1 and 3 on sovereign equality of all its members. Also Chapter V11 “the responsibility to protect”. The leaders of UN must always ensure equality, fairness and justice among Member Nations of United Nations.
The issue of security for Human kind does not stop at using military or police alone, also guaranteeing the security and safety of all Citizens of the World from infectious diseases and freedom of want.
Accordant to respected and distinguished Scholar Professor A. J. R Groom of Kent University, UK “there is the needs for “Security from infectious diseases and freedom of want” (April 2007).
Truth must be told that, diseases are killing people especially in less developed Nations of Africa, Latin America and Asia. This is very alarming. Diseases such as Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, (Aids) Malaria, Tuberculoses (T. Polio mellitus, Measles, Whooping cough, Ibola,Tetanus and many more. And still Covid-19. These diseases are killing people more than the war and conflicts do. Hence, United Nations must get quick solutions to the problems.
The summit of October 26, 2005 made Resolution for establishing “Peace Building Commission and Human Right Council” if this could be done, will be more- major developments in UN activities. The UN Security Council has to address this issue for the benefit of “You The People”.
The President of Nigeria Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other African leaders as well as other Global Economic Emerging Nations must give emphasis on the issues of Security Challenges and Economic Aridity/Stagflation as a result of Covid-19 in Africa and other South South Nations of the World that destroyed the economies of the regions.
Conclusively, this writing wishes the President of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu successful address of Nigeria’s problems especially the issue of stagflation, security challenges, economic precarity, security of want, food security and importantly the unity of the country. For certain the past one year; those problems mentioned above has not been successfully addressed. We must tell ourselves the truth. If this year 2024 pass by without tackling those problems its for sure that APC will lose its 4 soft theorem areas in the elections year 2027. The road shall not be smooth!
To be continued Insha’Allah
Abbati Bako, MA,bsis,alumniKent,Uni,UK’sEurpeanUniversity,psc,bsis,Doc.pl.sc.International Political Strategy and Communication Consultant,Rrseacher in International Politics/PhD.,Scholar@SkylineUni,
Kano and No16 best Uni in Nigeria and Treasurer Kano Chamber of Commerce
Peoplesmind
