Financial Sector Integration in the East Africa community Region of Sub-Saharan Africa

For most African states, the small scale of national markets constrains financial sector growth and efficiency, contributing to higher costs, a narrowed range of financial product offerings and the exclusion of numerous Africans from formal financial services. African states have long noted the limits imposed by their scale and set various courses on the pathway of economic regionalization, establishing a mosaic of regional agreements and bodies. Each African state is a member of on average four regional agreements relating to trade and/or finance. Making Finance Work for Africa. Regional financial integration, when set within the broader context of the financial sector reform agenda, offers one set of strategies to help unlock the efficiency of scale and market forces of competition.
While Africa has taken some steps toward regional financial integration, many of the benefits seem to be elusive. What aspects of financial sector integrations have the regions attained, and what should be prioritized among that which remains? What financial regulations, infrastructure and instruments should be tapped to deepen the financial sector and drive shared economic growth? Regional economic communities in Africa frequently focus upon the long term goal of a monetary union and prioritize convergence criteria, marginalizing discussions on banking supervision, payment systems, credit information and other pieces in the backbone of financial system. Yet the regionalization of these elements can offer significant gains either in conjunction with or in absence of a monetary union. History also suggests that the timeline achieving monetary union is long, while modest interim steps can advance the larger agenda and be realized in a relatively short timeframe.

NON VIOLENCE AS A WORKING FORCE IN 21st CENTURY

However much we try to attain peace and happiness, the speedy dynamic change in life still leaves us perplexed as to whether there is a likelihood of nonviolence action in this 21st century.
According to Gene Sharp (a political scientist), the politics of nonviolence is based most importantly on the means to successfully attain its goal. That the strategic violence is not passive, neither does it evade conflict. Conflict is unavoidable. Strategic nonviolEnce is basically a way of taking an active part in resisting in order to put agenda across through strategic campaigning using various means of disobedience and disruption.
A few points from the UN on the position of conflicts happening now and the urge for non violent alternatives; In this century, the turn of events have have projected things in different pesrpectives. The height of information technology, the new world order and Economic globalization. Post cold war drastically changed/ and still changing the socio-economic and political environment for better and for worse at the same time. The former being that there has been corresponding opportunities that arises with the change. The later is because there has been incessant risks to human security and freedom. Proliferation number of refugees and the displaced is a living testimony of human rights infringment. The universal declaration ‘vision of all rights for all people in all countries’ since 5 decades a go should be practised since now there are machineries, knowledge and capabilities of reaching for this aspiration.
Regardless of where one is, there is human values that we all expect to have; kindness, universal accountability, open mindedness and considerate. We are obliged to look beneath these characteristics and notice the part every one of us can play in changing the society, the corelation between our mind and actions undertaken and the rapid level of threat and the dread in gearing towards success as a result. Budding up a non-violent intellect becomes a recipe in speeding up the attainement of universal peace. It is a vision that can be reached by a person in a lifespan since it does not command any unique training and can be undertaken on the spot.
Non-violence has beneficial effects to an individual, it attains instant sense of tranquality, diminish intense stress and aggravation, personality and actual competence in yearning to helping others. This approach ,is consequential to a familly, a place of work and to the society at large.
Regarding the turn of events in the contemporary society based on the level of threat and the expression of violence such as civil wars, terrorism, person to person agressions, rape and torture, non violense should be given a first priority. The world is seaching for hope and advancement but appears to be more unsafe than it was before. Since the time of cold war to this century, there has been deadly conflicts, some are internal conflicts and impending disputes between some states. The world is looking for a way of stopping all these.
Even though we have varied experience in our lives, races, tribes, religious doctrines and cultures, we all endevour for a better and happier future regardless of miseries and concern. Everybody has been distressed by the unfolding events in the world. Political analysts have considered 21st century as being bloodier than any other in human history. Our main responsibility now is to change the course of how things have been and resort to nonviolent actions in order to find a lasting solution for peace.
In order to meet this objective, its important to consider the moral foundation of violence and nonviolent action.Non violent action starts from the mind of an individual and creating nonviolence ideology is instrumental in offering us a chance for another hope. Violence however, not only involves physical actions but it also encompasses speech and purpose. Its upon these attributes that we should act on and change the community we live in and the world at large. Violent actions should not be condoned when applied on our perpetrators neither should it be validated when a friend uses it on a common enemy. All in all, it is still violence and it leads to destruction. An action should be taken to prevent the escalation of violent activities such as prejudice, revulsion, inequality,antagonism and religious indoctrination.
The international community has worked together in peacebuilding processes and their work should not be ignored in finding a solution to the conflicts. Indiviuals should also play a bigger role whether in the community based groups or in businessess. Also education and sports are increasingly advancing in acknowledging the process. Multilateral diplomacy is thriving and giving an optimism in acquiring peace.
There is need in checking the way forward so that there can be a shift from violence actions to nonviolent activities and provide a severe deliberation to its perfomance in a commplishing nonviolent community. There are reasons fo this argument; First, it is imperative to discern that violent actions are not skin deep, nobody is born violent, it only starts from the mind of an individual. It lies upon the physical actions and speeches made. However, getting rid of violence in the mind is not an easy option, it involves bravery and fortitude.
Just like mahatma Gandhi said ‘We must be the change we wish to see not the darkness that we wish to leave’.

The Africa You Don't See on TV - Nairobi, Kenya

WEST AFRICA’S REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY- ECOMOG

Introduction
African continent has the most cases of conflicts and wars. West Africa however is the region in the continent that shares the biggest portion of the problems. Way back from the 90s there has been enormous number of deaths as a result of the conflict and violence in the region. Many people have also been displaced. All these consequences of conflict and violence have made the region and their regional building block, Economic community of west Africa-ECOWAS, become connected with the words such as insecurity, violence and destruction instead of collaboration and progress as defined in the key mission of ECOWAS.
Despite of numerous problems in the West African region, ECOWAS has built some mechanisms that could be instrumental in realizing the goal of peace and security in the region. Whereas upholding an economic development and cooperation as a focal point in the region.
Two decades ago, the West African community accounted for a military force that had a responsibility of resolving conflicts amongst states inside ECOWAS. The institutionalization of ECOMOG, the ECOWAS cease fire monitoring group.
The launch of ECOMOG made a record because at the time of its establishment, no any other parallel military force in Africa was there. It is not easy to say that those who established ECOWAS way back in 1977 had a prediction in the creation of ECOMOG, not to mention the role it has played in containing the political instability amongst its member states. ECOMOG actively participated in containing the Liberian war during the military take over.
Sierra Leone is another case example of ECOMOG’s active participation, where class struggle, high level corruption and misuse of natural resources changed into one of the most atrocious conflicts in the world. From 1991-2001, civilians were killed, raped, kidnapped, children were also recruited as child soldiers and millions were displaced.
In retrospect, undoubtedly ECOMOG actively played a bigger part in reinstating peace and security in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. It is also credible to say that ECOWAS and its military sister have advanced with the time.
During the wake of multipartism by most of ECOWAS member states; the regional body created more emphasis on negotiations and diplomacy as a first approach rather than military interventions. In cases of political coup or misuse of the constitution by one leader, the first reaction is through diplomatic intervention by way of negotiations or economic sanctions. These methods however give a first hand, in tackling the conflict before it escalates fully. This however does not imply that ECOMOG has no future role in military interventions.

MULTILATERALISM AND REGIONALISM IN SUB SAHARAN

Peace is a pre requisite for human development in helping countries to forge for further economic and security development, encouraging them to work individually and collectively. All the great and even emerging powers will have to confront new threats that will require multilateral cooperation; climate change, a looming energy crisis, transnational crime and terrorism are some of the non conventional threats that will drive even the most strong ones to increase cooperation. In regards to globalization as a process that embraces some advantages as well as many disadvantages for developing countries, they have used multilateral forums to move forward for a greater say
During the cold war Southern and developing countries established among others the Non-aligned movement (NAM) and the group of 77 (G77). These fora brings together a huge number of developing countries that they no longer feel the need to challenge the great powers. Their main objective of these groups was however to augment the intercontinental significance of developing countries and emerging powers and to create a conducive multipolar world. Therefore a South-South integration and cooperation from regional public goods perspective have been effective, keeping multilateralism and development in mind.
Africa has a long history of international cooperation, regional and sub-regional institutions that were established and maintained to address political and economic issues and others in addressing environmental issues. In specific, these areas include multilateral environmental agreements and institutions that are concerned with biodiversity conservation and utilization of transnational resources. Today, energy, climate change and stabilizing fragile and post conflict states are economic issues that must be built on a sense of shared responsibility for the wellbeing of global political economy and should involve the participation of major stakeholders in that economy. They are part of international security and environmental dialogue. They must be the concern of economic multilateralism as well, therefore much of the paper will cover the economic issues in addition to other global issues.
Most of the countries in Africa have been achieving rapid economic development and industrialization on the basis of liberalization and multilateralism and specifically on the market oriented strategies. They have gained from GATT/WTO system and have been actively supporting its multilateralism. Therefore the a misperception about Africa failing to ensure coherence to forge for a positive interface shall be positively highlighted.
All the 53 African countries are members of the United Nations. The UN charter has a vision of promoting international peace and development with a principle emphasis on human rights, equal rights for both men and women and nations small and big through international cooperation in getting a solution to economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character. The members of the African Union accounts for a quarter of the votes in the governing body of UN system, in fact the largest voting block.
It is clear that countries cannot stick to multilateralism only. Countries are too diverse in their developments. Negotiations under the umbrella of WTO take too much time as well. Regionalism is then an alternative to consider at least for countries geographically close to each other, especially for countries with common economic ties.
Right from the charter of the United Nations to the African Union constitution, and on the other hand to sub regional Economic institutions such as such as community for Sahel- Saharan States, Economic Community of Central and East African States, Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Arab Maghreb Union and Economic Commission of West African states, Africa is integrating within. These regional economic communities are primarily involved with the promotion of regional cooperation with a spotlight on economic developments. Their formation lies within the principles of sovereignty, solidarity, peace and security, human rights, democracy and security and peaceful settlements of disputes. Most of them however has embarked on extensive environmental issues.
Within the Sub regional treaty, SADC has been very active in the security and peace cooperation besides cooperating along the environmental issues adopting various protocols in shared water management 1995, energy 1996,wild life conservation and law enforcement 1999 among others. SADC also established the Zambezi Basin commission 2004 after more than two decades of failed negotiations.
Other more recently established sub region institutions includes the East Africa Community 1999. The main aim of this initiative was to expand the cooperation within the member states- Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda where conflict has been a big impediment to regional cooperation. It was established under the principles of democracy and good governance, peace and security, economic development and regional development.
The contemporary international society is composed of a large number and a variety of actors. Most of this countries are basically regional states although they might be dependent on international exchange, their fundamental foreign policy issue is on a regional level.
Multilateral forums have been quite important for developing countries in pushing for a greater say in a global governance. However, it also helps Africa to participate internationally to leverage concessions from the international community.

DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION IN SUB SAHARAN AFRICA

By the end of 1980s, only a few of African states were democratic, majority were ruled by military regimes. In early 1990s the political situation in Africa changed, multi partism started, although military regimes remained in power in some states but the dominant single party states that were common after independence were totally absent from the political map of Africa.
Consequent victory by ANC headed by Nelson Mandela took enormous twist with most ministerial portfolios being held by ANC. However things took a negative turn with the 1994 Rwandan Genocide that claimed a million lives and left thousands homeless. During that period (1990s), civil wars in Angola, Somalia and Liberia hindered the establishment of national governments. Never the less during this period, Africa was undoubtedly steering towards democracy.
By 1995 most of African states held competitive elections. Indeed in most cases it was first time most African countries were holding first elections with opposition parties. In return these opposition were awarded by the superpowers in both economic and military hardware regardless whether the regimes applied oppressive manner against their own people.
The end of 1980s showed most military regimes and single party states looking for international support that gave them less supportive context for authoritarianism. Instead a number of western governments, world bank and IMF began to insist that aid and governance had to be linked to political reforms, during the same period, political conditionality was added to economic conditionality which had emerged earlier. The political conditionality was to hold aid and investments on African governments that abused human rights and political freedom to their citizens until the abuses are removed. In most cases, political conditionality was linked to democratization or for others good governance. But in reality there is no simple case in Africa that external conditionality was imposed without there being strong domestic pressure for democracy within the African states concerned.
The change in the political environment in 1980s created an external situation that was more supportive to African democracy than before and made it more difficult for the authoritative regimes that wanted to prevent it.
Although external environment played a greater role in political reforms, much of the pressure was created in Africa by Africans. In assessing the importance of external and internal pressures, most of the African scholars concluded that inner pressure have played a bigger role and that the external progress have contributed relatively modestly. I concur with the analysis of these scholars. Considering the primacy of domestic factors, every African would testify that in every African state there has been a broad-based movements for political reforms with a demand for democracy which has been defined as requiring multi-party political system.
Although democratic movements in Africa have been influenced by developments in other parts of the world, the major contributing factor had been concerned with African experiences, in a more broad plausible way, in identifying the uniformity in political change across sub Saharan states since 1990, it’s been partly predominantly influenced by the restructuring of the global political system, there has been enormous opposition against autocratic regimes both by single party and military versions, and in Africa by varied range of political forces.