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Canada and the new Africa

Remarks by Honourable David Kilgour,
Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
at The African Society Conference: "Africa in the Twenty-First Century"
University of Alberta, Edmonton
February 28, 1998

Thank you for this opportunity to address the closing of your conference on Africa in the Twenty-First Century. I understand you’ve had productive discussions on a wide range of themes affecting Africa in the present and future.

Votre conférence a, pour moi, une importance spéciale parce qu’il s’agit d’une des régions dont j’ai la responsibilité. La création même de ce poste indique l’importance que le Canada donne a ses relations avec l’Afrique.

Having held this position for a little over half a year, I’ve had the chance to visit a number of African countries, as well as to meet a number of African leaders. I’m deeply impressed by the commitment of many Africans to face their development challenges. There is a growing commitment across Africa towards peace, democratic advancement, and economic growth.

Like many, I remain troubled by the magnitude of the problems that many African countries have yet to confront, or are confronting badly. There are serious human rights problems in countries such as Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria. Conflict and civil wars still confront Sudan, Burundi and Angola. There remain problems of governance in Zambia, Cameroon and Zimbabwe.

Overall though, I have come away from my encounters as an Afro-optimist. There is a genuine renaissance underway in many nations on the continent. Africa’s emergence as a stable, prosperous continent is, of course, important to every other continent in the world. The Canadian bond with Africa has continued to build since the days of John Diefenbaker and Mike Pearson. Both leaders saw what Africa means to the world and is capable of contributing.

The end of apartheid in South Africa and the spread of democracy in many other African countries gives the world increasing hope that the potential will now be realized. We Canadians must continue to lend assistance. Ultimately though, the right way to deal with African problems is to develop African capacities, both on trade and in the development of peace and democracy. The impetus for change must come from Africans themselves.

Central Africa

In September, I visited Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya and have seen for myself that our stereotypes of Africa are obsolete. In Kampala, I learned that fully 2,000 companies have located operations in Uganda in recent years. Similarly, in Rwanda, close observers say that there has been real economic progress for some – certainly not all – since the catastrophe of 1994, and that the government in office is genuinely seeking, despite major difficulties, reconciliation among its constituent communities.

One experience in Rwanda illustrates both the hope for the future in Africa and the challenge of the present. I had the opportunity to visit a project, partially funded by Canada, in which women left widowed by the violence in Rwanda work to build doors, windows and other housing materials. At first glance, I was struck by the profound tragedy of the genocide that left these women widowed. After meeting the women of the project, however, something else struck me, and gave me cause for hope. These women came from all three of the main cultural groups – Hutu, Tutsi and Batwa. Despite the interethnic violence of the recent past, these women were working together to build a new sense of community that cut across ethnic lines.

Reverend Curic

This is not to suggest that past conflicts can easily be put behind us. I was greatly saddened a month ago to receive news of the assassination of Reverend Vjekoslav Curic, a wonderful Croatian missionary priest involved in the widows’ project, who I met in September. Yet the project continues, and this gives me hope that other communities in Africa can work together to build a new Africa in the 21st century.

Peacebuilding, democratic development, conflict prevention and conflict response mechanisms are all requirements for Africa’s sustainable prosperity in the 21st century. These are all areas in which Canada has developed expertise and can play a role. The promotion of human security in Africa is in all of our common interest.

Secretary General Annan

In a speech last year, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan spoke passionately for the respect of human rights. "Human rights are African rights," he stressed. The Canadian government agrees completely that human rights and the rule of law are necessary for development in Africa.

One such area where Canada has taken a leading role is in the international reaction to the brutal military dictatorship in Nigeria. You all remember the last time Canada worked within the Commonwealth to achieve major social change in Africa by pressing for the end of apartheid in South Africa. This time we are working through the Commonwealth to bring about positive change in Nigeria.

Following the hanging of author Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1995, Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth. At the same time, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, or CMAG, was formed to collectively address such situations. The Harare Declaration of 1991 binds member governments to promote democracy, good governance and fundamental human values throughout the Commonwealth. CMAG has been coordinating the Commonwealth response to a human rights situation in Nigeria, a situation I can only describe as appalling. All opposition has been stifled, the jails are full of politicians, trade unionists, journalists, democratic activists and anyone thought to be harbouring anti-government sentiments. The Commonwealth has given Nigeria until October 1st of this year to complete a general transition to the rule of law, a democratically elected civilian government, and the acceptance of basic rights, including the release of all political prisoners.

CMAG

Tomorrow I’ll be leaving for London with Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy for the 10th meeting of CMAG. There, we will be discussing what to do next about a situation that frankly isn’t improving.

Despite such setbacks, there is much in Africa to be optimistic about. There is wide recognition among African leaders that Africa must move from dependence on aid to reliance on trade. Several countries have taken steps resulting in real positive growth. Botswana, Mauritius and Uganda are examples. I am hopeful that this trend will escalate in the 21st century.

Africa accounts for 45 per cent of Canadian bilateral development assistance and over half our humanitarian relief. Canada has provided leadership in debt forgiveness to the poorest countries. I’m pleased that under the recent 1998 budget, our aid commitments remain firmly in place.

Aid vs Investment/Trade

Aid, however, has a way of becoming self perpetuating, and African leaders have expressed the view that if Africa is to escape from aid dependence, it must expand its trade. As some of the speakers at your conference have observed, the expansion of trade in a climate of globalization can cause social dislocations. The poorest are often the hardest hit by economic change. For them, and for victims of crisis, humanitarian relief must continue. Ultimately though, the key to African prosperity will be through economic growth and greater African participation in the international economy.

Africans have a vivid memory of colonial history. That was why after achieving independence, many countries withdrew into a self-imposed economic exile. Economic isolationism has not worked, and many forward-thinking African leaders today are seeking ways to build internationally viable economies – not economies dominated by structures of neo-colonialism, but economies in which Africans themselves play a leading role. I was impressed, for example, by Ugandan President Museveni’s desire to increase his country’s value-added agricultural exports and to reach new markets.

Canada believes strongly in the potential for Africa to be both a trading partner and a destination for Canadian investment. We are encouraged by South Africa’s new role as an engine of African economic growth, as well as its influence of peace and stability in the entire southern African region. It is heartening to see such former enemies as South Africa and Mozambique cooperating in transportation and infrastructure that will allow South African goods to be shipped through the deepwater port of Maputo.

Canadian companies are active in a number of key sectors in Africa, such as mining, telecommunications and engineering. More than half of all new mining activity in Africa involves Canadian firms, according to the Rand Merchant Bank of South Africa. Our exports in 1996 to Africa were more than $1.4 billion, and imports more than $2 billion.

There is room for much more expansion in Canada’s trade with Africa – a trend that will benefit both Canadians and Africans, and in which Canadians of African origin can play a key role. That is why I will be leading a trade mission to Africa for two weeks in April. I plan to take representatives of Canadian companies, representing small and medium-sized businesses, to Ghana, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, South Africa and Tanzania. It is a project that I hope will strengthen Canada’s ties with Africa, and contribute to African development.

Among the bridges that have been built through time between Canada and Africa, I should particularly mention those resulting from the presence of many African students at Canadian universities. I am pleased that all of you, one way or another, contribute in enriching our relationship.

Many parts of Africa are moving forward in economic and social development. There are new advances in peace and democratic governance. These trends are far from universal, but I believe they signal a growing momentum that will take Africa forward in the new millennium. Canada has a long tradition of friendship with Africa through the Commonwealth and Francophonie – a tradition that has not been tarnished by colonialism. Canadians have an interest in Africa’s development, and that stake will only increase as Africa becomes a region of greater global influence.