Mr Patrick Agbambu, CEO SWA |
The
International Coordinator, Security Watch Africa (SWA) Awards and Lecture, Mr
Patrick Agbambu has said that the major security problem in Africa emanates from
“bad leadership”.
Mr
Agbambu was speaking to Gambian journalists on Monday during a press conference
on the “8th edition of the 2011 SWA Awards and Lecture” at a local
hotel at Brufut, Kombo north district, West Coast region of The Gambia.
Mr
Agbambu, who was responding to a variety of security issues, said the post
election crisis in the West African state of Ivory Coast was actually touching
to his organisation, Security Watch Africa. “What was supposed to bring joy to
the people of Cote d’Ivoire, ended up in war,” he lament.
Libya crisis
In
disapproval, Mr Agbambu said he believe in an African solution to African
problems while responding to a question on Western interference in Africa’s
security affairs as in the case of the imposition of a no-fly zone and a
subsequent regime change in Libya.
“Actually
you have just touched me emotionally, I am an African and I believe in the
African way of doing things”, said Mr Agbambu, who is also the Chief Executive
Officer of SWA.
“The
West only interferes in the security of Africa where they have a selfish
interest. I have always asked where were they when Liberia and Sierra Leone
were in turmoil. The United Nations only came in after they realise it was safe
enough to do so; it was ECOMOG that sacrificed to end these wars.”
Somalia famine
Another
issue of insecurity on the continent is the famine in Somalia and the Horn of
Africa, however, Mr Agbambu believe that hunger should never be an issue in
Africa.
He
stressed: “We have no cause to be hungry in Africa. The most fertile lands are
found in Africa, so why should we go hungry. Even the so-called deserts in
Africa are fertile, it has been proven in Libya.”
Real problem
He
noted that SWA’s lectures mainly target the educated elite, who are the real
problem on the continent of Africa. Hence, they would be involved awareness
creation in a series of media interactions, also during interactions with the
Gambian authorities, and the communities, including those living in rural
areas.
“The
people in rural communities are not the problems in terms of security in
Africa; it is the educated elite who are the real problem,” he argued.
The Awards
On
the Awards and Lecture, he said it was initiated in 2004 to motivate African
countries to encourage and boost the security awareness and consciousness in
their citizenry. It is also intended to encourage governments, individuals and
organisations that put up so much effort to secure their environment and their
country.
The
8th edition of SWA 2011 Awards and Lecture will be held in Banjul,
The Gambia on October 13-14 under the theme “Security and Infrastructure: Can
Africa Get It Right?”
He
also told journalists that the initiative has gained tremendous impact on the
previous awardees and societies. “We have seen some improvement in their
services,” said Mr Agbambu.
Though
he falls short of listing the challenges SWA faces as an organisation, he noted
that they are not without challenges. “We live in Africa, and Africa is a
continent where even as an individual, one has to face challenges, so do
organisations.”
He
also noted that SWA work closely with ECOWAS Commission and the Accra-based
West African Trade Hub in monitoring the Member States that are committed to
the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Goods
and Services.
For
this reason, he said SWA will present awards to West African leaders who are
committed to the implementation of the Protocol instituted by the sub-regional
economic bloc 32 years ago (May 29, 1979). SWA have also
been able to identify security problems in West Africa and put it to the ECOWAS
Commission to work on them, especially in areas where some member countries are
dragging.
“Gambia
has so far achieved 70 percent on the implementation of the protocol on free
movement,” he claimed.
Host benefits
The
SWA CEO said The Gambia as host will benefit a lot as the country will be added
into the “map of friendly and receptive destinations” in Africa. “It will help
showcase the current development taking place in the country and project the
government as security-conscious and friendly.
Author: Modou S. Joof for The Voice Newspaper
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