The 24th African Union Summit, held from Jan. 30 to 31 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focused on the path of Africa’s independent development, which is characterized by African states working together to counter various traditional security threats, especially terrorism, and African committing to realizing their common goals.

Africa’s development is characterized by “mosaicalization,” meaning that Africa faces entangled security challenges and has sustainable development opportunities. For instance, the favorable economic development in the south of Nigeria is beneficial for the whole of West Africa, but the unrest in the north of Nigeria also leads to a significant regional spillover effect. Similar circumstances also exist in the east and center of Africa.

Securities challenges for Africa have become increasingly complicated in the 21st century. Structural violence—from the upper to lower level initiated by the government—is gradually being replaced by non-structural violence—from the lower to upper level initiated by social forces. Structural violence has declined since the end of the Cold War. Non-structural violence has increased, enacted by groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and by pirate crews in Somalia and the Gulf of Guinea.

There are two main unsafe zones in Africa: the “belt” area, extending from the Horn of Africa in the east to the Great Lakes Region in the middle and then to the west of Africa, and the “arc” area, starting from Libya and Algeria to Nigeria through the Sahil area. Structural and non-structural violence occurs in both zones, but non-structural violence is dominant in the north and south of Africa.

In recent years, the rise of Africa has become a hot topic because both of actual developments and media hype. Emerging states and crude oil export states such as South Africa and Nigeria are developing fast, forecast to have a growth rate of 6.2 percent for the next two years. Economies of low-income states and weak African states are also improving, and have a predicted growth rate of 7.1 percent for the next two years.

And the potential in population dividend, rapidly-growing middle class and fast-developing urbanization will promote sustainable development of the African economy.

The international community, dominated by Western states, does not pay enough attention to the mosaicalization of Africa. Western states often have doubts about any kind of development in Africa and observe its development from a security perspective. And they tend to increase aid to Africa, instead of helping the continent become more self-sustainable.

Africa has gradually realized that the attitude and policy of Western states toward Africa are negatively influencing Africa’s security and development. This year’s AU Summit is trying to make a breakthrough on this issue, which is valuable and important. But because of resource restrictions, AU has limited room to maneuver its policies.

The AU Peace and Security Council has resolved to authorize many African states, including Nigeria, to form a multinational force of 7,500 soldiers to counter Boko Haram. Benin and the member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) have agreed to dispatch forces and set up a headquarter to command operations. And the AU has decided to establish a “peace school” in Cote d’Ivoire to develop “peaceful culture” in Africa.

The AU has also passed Vision 2063—a blueprint for Africa's development for the next 50 years—and a ten-year development plan. The AU has decided to tap its own potential and reduce dependence on external assistance.

The AU will focus on promoting the Common African Position (CAP) on the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda. It has also declared 2015 as the Year of Women’s Empowerment. And it will stimulate Pan-Africa FTA negotiations on the basis of the regional integration of the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
There are two main features of the AU’s efforts:

It stresses independence and cooperation in Africa. While calling on collective efforts and the potential of African states, Africa is struggling to get rid of dependence on external assistance and pursue a path of independent development.

It stresses the balance between development and security. It focuses on countering security challenges without sacrificing economic development, and on staying clear-headed about the rise of Africa. Africa is trying to find a way out in seeking development while maintaining security, declining the previous Western prototype of choosing between these two.

Source of documents：english.cntv.cn