PANELIST
Moderator: Prof. Ajay K Dubey, Chairperson Centre for African Studies, JNU and President Asa India & Odi India
Speakers:
Amb Virendra Gupta, President, ARSP, Bharat; Former Indian Ambassador to Tanzania & South Africa,& Former Visiting Prof Centre for African Studies, JNU
Dr. Khalid Abdalla Abdelwahab, Political Affairs Officer, British Embassy, Khartoum, Sudan and Ex JNUite
Dr. Nicholas Idris ERAMEH, Senior Research Fellow, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, Nigeria
Dr. JM Moosa, Associate Professor, Centre for African Studies, SIS, JNU
Dr. Bijay Ketan Pratihari, Associate Professor, Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia & Treasurer, Asa India
Ms. Ruchita Beri, Consultant, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses (MP- IDSA)
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CONCEPTNOTE
Following their attainment of independence, a number of African nations had instances of secession. The situation occurred despite the fact that the Organization of African Unity (OAU), established in 1963, had firmly affirmed the inviolability of African national borders and committed to collaborative efforts aimed at preserving their integrity. Following it, the African Union adopted a similar decision. However, after gaining their independence, several African nations had secessions, with some of them still grappling with ongoing secessionist challenges. Similar to other independent and emerging nations in post the Second World War era, Africa continues to grapple with the persistent challenge of separatist and centrifugal tendencies that pose a threat to state unity.
In addition to several other factors, the presence of powerful foreign powers with a vested interest in Africa has contributed to the emergence of separatist groups in numerous African nations. The concept of "diaspora within" in Western countries is used to exert and maintain pressure on African governments, with the aim of eliciting concessions from these states to Western powers.
By creation of centrifugal forces they expect that African states will follow their line and interest otherwise political instability, secessionist forces will be a constant challenge for them. One has seen use of ‘Diaspora within’ by the Western countries in successfully dividing Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and making stability difficult in many other African countries.
Use of ‘Diaspora within’ to achieve their interest by creating new client states by the Western powers has accelerated under globalisation. This trend has been particularly pronounced as African nations increasingly see diaspora populations as valuable assets and economic resources, hence facilitating their integration and granting them various privileges.
A highly linked ‘Diaspora within’ had been used and is would be used by the developed countries to destabilise the mother countries and at times effect secession which give them a new state that owe its birth to these Western powers and serves their interests. Simultaneously ‘Diaspora within’ from a developed country like Britain within developed countries has silently led to formation of a ‘world community’ that speak with one voice and also share intelligence as ‘five eyes’ while using ‘Diaspora within’ from Africa and other developing countries to promote secession and instability.
The proposed webinar intends to examine the experiences of different African countries that have witnessed secession and are facing strong secessionist forces in Africa. It examines the role of ‘Diaspora within’ forces located in developed countries, their strategy, and how African countries are managing such external divisive initiatives.
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