Canada's Neglect of Africa
Over the last few years, Canada's relationship with Africa has been sluggish. Many debates have erupted over Canada's foreign policy, particularly its withdrawal from African peacekeeping missions, humanitarian aid, and economic involvement. Canada's neglect of the continent stems from pre-existing views of poverty, war, and political unrest. Previous regimes shied away from spending in Africa because the markets were adverse. The Liberal administration, on the other hand, has vowed to re-engage with Africa by revising its foreign policies and developing a new economic orientation on the continent. This essay provides an analysis of Canada's foreign policy and its approach to Africa.
Canada's New Foreign Policies Towards Africa
The recent announcement by Prime Minister Trudeau has confirmed that Africa will be a beneficiary of a more compassionate and progressive foreign policy. This move is aimed at invigorating Canada's involvement in Africa's affairs after almost a decade of desertion from Stephen Harper's Conservative government. The new foreign policies are more likely to place Africa in a new direction towards economic development, political and security stability.
Perceptions of Africa and Canada's Negligence
Canada's long-standing negligence can be attributed to the fact that Africa is traditionally perceived to be a continent of crisis and poverty. Consequently, its lack of national interest in the continent has led to diplomatic mission cuts to Africa over the recent years. Canada's deteriorating diplomatic relations in Africa can only be termed as a natural consequence of the perceptions that exist about Africa. Research done by Akuffo (2016) shows that a majority of the Canadian Public believes that the continent is conflict-ridden and poverty-stricken. The pursuit of economic opportunities in such a region would, therefore, be unwise and immoral.
Redefining Canada's Approach to Africa
Canada should learn to see Africa as a land of economic opportunity, and as such, they should embark on policies that would make it a priority for new foreign policies. Its economic diplomacy should target the poorest nations in the continent. The efforts to participate in Africa's peacekeeping missions have proven to be ineffective. Black (2015) notes that it showed very little concern over the security issues of the continent particularly when it decided to dismantle the Sudan Task Force which coordinated peace-building efforts in Sudan. There is a need for the government to make a list of priority nations which would be targeted for Canadian business investment.
Canada's Disengagement with Africa
Over the recent past, Canada ignored UN's peacekeeping efforts in Africa by refusing to send troops to major peacekeeping missions in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Akuffo, 2016). Africa has never been the focus of any Canadian government in the past. Canada's disengagement with Africa can be seen in the way it has repeatedly failed to articulate and pursue national interests regarding foreign policies. Whereas nations such as the US, China, and France among others have focused on offering strategic economic support to the continent, Canada has shown very little interest and support in its foreign policies.
A New Peacekeeping Mission to Africa
Prime Minister Trudeau recently announced that Canada would be launching a peacekeeping mission to Africa in an attempt to tackle the root causes of conflict in war-toned nations. In his speech, Trudeau said that the deployment is not just about going to fight, but rather restoring peace in Africa and ensuring it thrives, both politically and economically. He, however, noted that they would use a layered approach if they engage in UN missions so that they can create conditions for long-term security and stability. The Liberal government confirmed that $450 million had been allocated for the purpose of peace and stabilization over a three-year period (Hornsby, 2016). This means that Canada will send more than 600 troops and 150 police officers to Africa for peacekeeping missions.
Countering Radicalization in Impoverished Nations
Harjit Sajjan, the defense minister, said that the operation would also be focused on countering youth radicalization in impoverished nations. He also articulated the government's consideration's over its looming decision by noting that Canada is hoping to solve the conflicts in Africa by examining the root causes and preventive measures. They plan to solve the problem by analyzing the issue from a government perspective and its impact in promoting the wars. More than 60% of the population in Africa falls in the age bracket of people at 24 and below. In its revitalization of the foreign policies of Africa, Canada plans to empower these individuals as a means of countering radicalization into terror groups.
Challenges and Unanswered Questions
Canada's peacekeeping resolutions provide a new light and hope to most nations in Africa. But, it leaves many questions unanswered, such as how the government is planning to resolve entrenched ethnic and tribal conflicts, spurred by traditional rivalries. How will Canada deal with government leaders who pass unconstitutional mandates, or those with weak democratic leaderships? The prime minister only provided a general solution to the problem, and as such, he never gave specifics as to what his government has planned to do. This issue requires a comprehensive approach that will seek to provide viable solutions by analyzing the failures of past attempts. The efforts to restore peace and security to African states will be very challenging if Canada decides to venture blindly into the warfare before exploring all the possible options and solutions.
Recommendations
The Canadian government needs to adopt new foreign policies that would strengthen its relations with African nations and increase the economic investments in the regions (Black, 2015). The priorities in the Middle East and North Africa need to be reviewed if progress is to be made. The nation needs to support global diplomatic efforts that are aimed at combatting terrorism and conflicts in affected areas. Their participation in encouraging peaceful methods of conflict resolution is essential because it provides a new approach to the problem. Even though the Prime Minister has confirmed Canada's peacekeeping mission to Africa, the government needs to review the root causes of the conflicts and devise methods of solving them.
Canada also needs to promote the continent's economic prosperity through economic reforms, treaties, and agreements. Suffering can only be alleviated if humanitarian assistance is offered. This will only be possible if the standards of living are raised through the growth of stable economies and the promotion of peace in the region. Financial support to the education sector is essential because it stimulates development and provides hope for a better future (Akuffo, 2016). Canada should strive to promote core values of transparency, accountability, and democratic practices in African governments. The key to solving the problem starts with the basic respect for human rights and the campaign for free and fair elections. An increase in food security and improvement of health facilities is vital for the economic sustenance of African counties.
Conclusion
For the past decades, the Canadian government has expressed little involvement in Africa's affairs regarding foreign policy initiatives. The historical and contemporary facts surrounding its involvement in security policies and development strategies have been explored throughout the text. Canada's efforts to revitalize their engagement to the continent have been seen through Trudeau's peacekeeping mission to Africa. Even though the nation has promised to increase its economic aid and investment to the continent, more needs to be done if a notable change is to be felt.
References
Akuffo, E. A. (2016). Canadian foreign policy in Africa: Regional approaches to peace, security, and development. Routledge.
Black, D. R. (2015). Canada and Africa in the new millennium: The politics of consistent inconsistency.
Hornsby, D. J. (2016). Canadian foreign policy in Africa: promising premises, disappointing results. Canadian Journal of African Studies/Revue Canadienne des études africaines, 50(2), 303-308.
