African Leaders’ New York Dilemma: One Representative or Full Delegation? A Continent Divided!

In recent discussions, the question of whether African leaders should attend international meetings like the UN General Assembly in full delegations or send just one representative has sparked intense debates. This topic gained further momentum when Kenya’s President, William Ruto, passionately advocated for sending representatives instead of a full-scale attendance by individual leaders.

In the debate, Buhari Ibin Umar asserted that Africans have only one interest at the international level: an end to neocolonialism and illegal exploitation of African resources. Wise Petty emphasized that meaningful progress wasn’t achieved through such meetings, implying their ineffectiveness. Moses Sakatende questioned the benefits of these gatherings, suggesting that Africa might not gain much by attending them.

Yaa Man raised a fundamental point by questioning why issues affecting Africa should be discussed in Europe when they primarily occur on the African continent. Sekou Majeneba criticized the enormous financial resources being spent on attending these meetings, especially given the minimal impact they seem to have. Abdi Karim Abdullah Warsame commended leaders like Magufuli, who refrained from attending such meetings and focused on serving their countries.

Anyachukwu Charles challenged the notion of attending meetings in New York by comparing African development to that of the host city. Ndapanda Ndapowoshali stressed the importance of fair trade opportunities and over-reliance on selling African raw materials at low prices and expecting foreign grants. Mansa Sulayman suggested that African military commanders and generals should be on standby during these meetings, hinting at the potential for political instability in the absence of leaders.

Lastly, Vamadee Donzo expressed scepticism about the utility of the UN, suggesting that it primarily serves the interests of the United States and Europe. These diverse perspectives reflect the complexity of the issue, as African leaders continue to grapple with their role in international forums and their responsibilities to their home nations.