The Pan African Movement Rwanda chapter has again been resurrected and it is not keeping things quiet. This week it engaged the youth on the opportunities that can be garnered from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The agreement is the biggest success the continent has had in a very long time. At last Africa has managed to speak as one voice with no outside disruptions. It is quite something, to realise that the first Pan African Conference took place in London 118 years ago. The idea of pan-Africanism continued to float around for the next half-century but without leaving a mark. It was only on the eve of most African countries’ independence that the flame started to burn again, fueled on by such persons as Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere and Haile Selassie with moral support from American academic W.E.B Du Bois and firebrand Malcolm X. There was a lot of excitement in the air; Africa was finally finding direction as one and there was a lot to look forward to. But the African leaders had not contended with the Cold War and the long tentacles of neo-colonialism. Many were caught in the cross-fire, chose sides and suffered the consequences. It was the era of remote-controlled coup d’états. The successful superpower installed stooges who did their biddings; the African dream had again been scuttled when it was about to spread its wings. So, why is there so much optimism today that Africa can speak with one voice? Number one; it is a necessity. Countries can no longer afford to go it alone so they have to embrace globalisation. The implementation of the AfCFTA should be able to do just that, and our youth are more than ready to see it through. editorial@newtimesrwanda.com
