Africa's Missing Center of Gravity: An Open Letter to President Museveni

In an open letter addressed to President Yoweri Museveni, lawyer John Kabagambe raises critical questions about Africa’s fragmented approach to global affairs and its “missing center of gravity.”

Kabagambe commends Museveni’s long-standing advocacy for Pan-Africanism and Uganda’s development, referencing his speeches from the early days of post-civil war reconstruction to current economic aspirations. However, he highlights a persistent concern first articulated by Museveni in his 2021 inauguration speech: “Where is Africa’s centre of gravity?”

The author draws a parallel with NATO, the defense alliance that gives Europe a unified stance. Kabagambe argues that Africa, despite its immense wealth and population, lacks a similar cohesive force. This disunity, he contends, leaves the continent vulnerable, citing the external intervention in Libya in 2011 and the historical assassination of Patrice Lumumba as stark examples of how African nations are often disregarded by global powers.

The letter points to inconsistencies in foreign policy among African nations, such as differing approaches to foreign military presence. It also questions the efficacy of the “African solutions to African problems” mantra when some leaders seek external military intervention from nations whose past actions have harmed the continent.

Kabagambe suggests that while a full “United States of Africa” might be polarizing, a concrete step towards greater unity and security is overdue. He proposes the formation of an “African Defence Treaty,” inspired by the model of NATO. Such a treaty, he argues, could lead to the establishment of a standing African army, navy, and air defense force.

This unified defense capability, he believes, would not only deter external aggression but also address critical issues like piracy in African waters and the tragic loss of life from irregular migration. Kabagambe expresses confidence in President Museveni’s leadership, particularly within the East African Community, to spearhead this initiative across regional blocs like IGAD, ECOWAS, and SADC.

‘Where is Africa’s centre of gravity? An open letter to President Museveni’ by John Kabagambe in the Daily Monitor.