“We also recognize that multilateralism is broken, and it is our responsibility to repair it,” says President William Ruto.
Introduction
In his opening address at the United Nations General Assembly 78th Session held on September 21, 2023, Antonio Gutierrez, the UN Secretary-General presented a clear graphic snapshot of the state of world affairs today, a state of world affairs that raises concerns about the current state of cooperation among countries in today’s fragmented and complex political world. The UN Secretary-General also questions the founding aspirations, values, principles, and agenda of the United Nations. In Africa today, millions of people are besieged by about their present and future security, dignity, and prospects of well-being. The new era of global denunciation led by African Presidents such as William Ruto and Cyril Ramaphosa exposes the shortcomings of multilateralism. Although that movement of denunciation continues, a more compelling strategy must emerge.
As the African continent struggles to emerge from its colonial past, then, its leaders must also think about the more distant future. This involves raising a certain number of existential questions. What form of multilateralism is best suited to serve Africa’s interest on the global stage today? What are likely to be the chief barriers facing Africa’s integration in the global economy over the next couple of decades? What form of international economic cooperation is the most important to pursue, and most likely to be achieved? What could be the new constraints imposed by the realities of international political and economic orders?
In what follows, Jean Narcisse Djaha, Founding President of the African Council on Foreign Relations exposes the failures of multilateralism in Africa.
The False Promises of Multilateralism in 21st Century Africa’s Systems
Multilateralism has failed Africa in many ways. After the Cold War which opposed the US-led liberal international order and the Soviet Union ended in 1991, there was a huge amount of hope about the promises of multilateralism in the Global South, especially African nations. That optimism was reflected in every country’s economic openness to the global economy, allowing commerce with international trade actors from around the world. The post-Cold War era marked the deployment of globalization, which resulted in an unprecedented era of economic growth, raising living standards in countless countries, and projecting global economic power for countries such as America and China. The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the Bretton Woods institutions became rule-making organizations in the so-called multilateralism.
As prescribed in Article 1 of the Charter, the mission of the UN is to “maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace”. After 78 years of existence, the United Nations has not succeeded in maintaining peace in most conflicts on African soil. The promise of maintaining international peace in Africa is not there. Several interrelated factors would make international economic cooperation more complex than it was expected. First, the multilateral system was not designed to make African nations part of the global economic and political governance system in a way that benefit their populations. Second, even where desire to build an inclusive international cooperation is strong, African nations faced challenges and obstacles to becoming integral parts of the global economic and cooperative enterprises. Third, there are divergences among the interests and objectives of the major international economic actors. And, finally, the recent development of great power competition efforts is not particularly encouraging and satisfying. At the same time, the number of international economic players is increasing, posing a serious challenge about Africa’s position in the 21st century global economy.
The Fall of Multilateralism in Africa.
Many experts agree, without any fear of contradiction, that the world of multilateralism is in dire state. According to President Ruto of Kenya, the entire UN system is headed in a most undesirable direction. For William Ruto, it is in moments like this that the affirmative spirit of multilateralism, international collective action, and global solidarity is most needed and should be attainable.
Far from being flawless, the United Nations system has various endemic structural bottlenecks, among which the veto system debilitating the Security Council, the continuous non-respect of UN resolutions by powerful nations, the presence of human rights violators at the Human Rights Council, the chronic lack of financing, and inefficient decision-making processes.
‘’The environment of pervasive mistrust – between the global north versus south, developed versus the developing, rich versus poor, polluters versus victims and net emitters versus net victims- which complicates and frustrates multilateralism, is the inevitable result of promises not kept, commitments not actualised, resolutions not honoured, and principles not observed. Multilateralism has been failed by the abuse of trust, negligence and impunity’’, says President Ruto.
The pursuit of self-interest since the founding of the UN system in 1945 has undermined multilateralism. The maintenance of the status quo is still on, threatening the existence of the international cooperative aspirations. The anti-democratic governance of multilateralism has sowed the seed of its own destruction. The first era of globalization, propelled by the industrial revolution and economic liberalism, only benefited the West. The existence of these facts defies the basic values and principles of the UN system and its governance.
In the face of the most urgent crises of our time, multilateral institutions have fallen seriously behind in meeting their goals in both conflict resolution action and the democratic governance of the world political order, as well as their underlying enabler, peace and security.
What form of multilateralism is best suited to serve Africa’s interests on the global stage?
“We also recognize that multilateralism is broken, and it is our responsibility to repair it,” says President William Ruto.
The continuous failure of the United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS to deliver an African-driven action calls for the dissolution or reformation of these institutions. Africa must adopt a values-based multilateralism model. A values-based multilateralism approach, that of all African countries, will aim to build and consolidate the African community of emerging market economies and strong political systems as the heart of an open, values-driven African international cooperation. Consistent with the values that govern African multilateral institutions, such a strategy must primarily focus on building on the existing efforts that Africans to a common cause. A values-based multilateralism approach is one that is grounded in African values. In other words, Africa must compete in the global economy within its own values. At this critical juncture in Africa’s international relations, leaders cannot afford complacency on the continental problems they encounter. African leaders must rise above their differences to deliver action that benefits the people of Africa. To maintain trust in the multilateral system, leaders must step up and stand by their promises.
In addition, Africa needs to be given a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. UN chief António Guterres has called for Africa to be given a permanent seat at the UN Security Council as part of reforms to correct historical injustices. “The world has changed since 1945. But the composition of the Council, despite a few changes, has not kept pace,” Mr Guterres said.
Final thoughts
Multilateral institutions are in a dying mode. This situation creates a lot of conflicts on the global stage, leaving powerful economies to do what they want. To change this situation in Africa’s favor, African leaders need to fight their own battles by defending what means dear to their hearts. With this current broken system, it appears that no one will take their battles on their behalf and combat it. In other words, the solution is in the hands of African leaders.
Author The Author
Jean Narcisse Djaha, PhD is the Founding President and Chairman of the African Council on Foreign Relations. He is guided by Romans 8:30 ‘’And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified”.
