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21 century Africa

It’s a different world now!

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Competing global regional powers

Globalisation has undeniably increased the integration and interdependence of the
economy of different countries. The 2020 CV-19 pandemic amply demonstrated the extent

of current global economic interdependence.

We have already moved from that time when the views of 1 country could be imposed
on all others. Our old history books would often refer to 'spheres of influence'. We have

been moving towards such a time.

China will have its sphere. S and SE Asia. It lies geometrically opposite one of its
major rivals for global influence. Indonesia.

Indonesia will have its sphere. And its own rivals in Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Each competing to be the accepted leader of the Muslim world.

India will have its sphere, as China's other competitor, and whose people are of a

different religion to Indonesia, is separated from China by vast ranges of mountains.
Unsurprisingly, India regards the Indian Ocean as defining its sphere of influence. Its self-

interest is easy to understand. It is almost 70% dependent on oil import, the major part of
which crosses the Indian Ocean on its journey from the gulf region. And India has been

deeply ensconced all over Africa since the time of Colonial Africa.

Russia, as the biggest economy in Europe, will cast its own threatening shadow. And
Russia is already increasingly active in African countries. USSR had a strong presence

there at the time of African independence. Then it fell back under the perception of an all

dominant USA. Now it looks to reassert its ability to compete.
For several decades, African nations and Africa as a whole will have a much stronger

negotiating hand. And bit by bit, African leaders will be more willing to assert the African
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voice. And more than willing to defy the m'zuŋ u.
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Willingness to openly defy m'zuŋ u 'powers'
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Africans have a distinct sense that their ways are different from those of the m'zuŋ u.
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There is a pent up anger with m'zuŋ u always telling them what to do, how to behave.
There is a deep underlying sense of being used by other countries. That other countries are
only in Africa to pursue their own self-interest. Across several African countries, in a wide