Exploitative Approach

As Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly embarks on her highly anticipated trip across Africa, questions loom large over Canada and its true intentions on the continent.

For years, Canada stood on the sidelines as other nations like China poured resources and investments into Africa. But now, with Africa’s rising economic power, Canada is rushing to stake its claim.

Joly’s mission overseas is being painted as a goodwill tour to strengthen partnerships. But a closer look reveals an effort by Canada to play catch-up and gain an advantage for its corporate interests.

But smooth talking alone won’t erase distrust formed over generations. Joly must bring more than memoranda of understanding to the table – only concrete actions can determine if Canada has truly reformed, or if Africans once again finds themselves outfoxed by those claiming to offer allies and aid.

Canada Wants Seconds

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly jets off on a jaunt across Africa to seek out partnerships and cooperation that Canada was miserably behind considering how other western nations like the United States and several European countries have had their fill of Africa’s resources and labour.

After years of neglect and empty promises, it seems Canada wants to just swoop in and establish itself in a totally different Africa than they are probably used to.

Long gone are the days where Africa was bowing down to any outsider’s hand. Africa today is united in the face of colonising tyranny masquerading as partnerships. And it will take so much more than what Canada is possibly willing to offer to consider this form of unity.

But before we dive deep into this I do need to provide some context by asking one simple question; What do you reckon is the number one reason for Africa being hindered from any progress by every western nation? Opinions will vary about how this exact scenario is here and might continue to be.

Some think that total isolation from the outside world is going to get Africa to suffer greatly more than any western influence will ever do. They think a united front is only strong when it is coupled and goes alongside equally strong cooperation with allies that helps us as much as we help them.

What they sometimes fail to understand or recognize with their conviction is that Africa as a whole has been severely burned and stung before by the western colonisers so obviously trust would be a much slower and much less favourable process in the long run.

On the other hand, there are people that will view it from this exact perspective and see that cooperation is a cure for a disease we do not have nor are we looking forward to having any time soon.

And their opinions can be validated just like I said before but also it is very advantageous and helpful to Africa and Africa’s future to seek partnerships and cooperation from nations that actually respect and care about their integrity. It is not impossible to seek out an ally that will see you as an equal and will work for your benefits as much as you work for theirs.

Now with all of that said and done, I ask you this; Do you think Canada is going to hinder or progress Africa?

Canada and a History of Neglect

One must question Canada’s motives in suddenly reviving engagement with the continent after years of neglect and empty promises.

Joly’s stops in Ivory Coast and South Africa are being spun as some noble mission to fight terrorism and commemorate milestones. But there is no talk about any seemingly useful future investments or anything of that matter. It’s all just memories of a colonial past rife with plundering and destruction.

Africa has long been exploited by Western powers like Canada for its rich natural resources and economic potential. Yet the prosperity reaped from the continent rarely makes its way back to enrich African nations and people.

Now, with Africa’s population booming and its economy rising, opportunistic Canada wants a bigger piece of the pie. It is almost like Canada was waiting for the right time to strike gold instead of actually taking the chance like China to invest in the future of Africa and its wonderful and hardworking people.

Joly’s trip lays the groundwork to advance Canadian corporate interests under the guise of mutually beneficial partnerships. That is it. Nothing more, and quite certainly in terms of Canada’s interests, nothing less.

So how could this “business” tripp come about and materialise right in front of our judging eyes? Very simply my dear friend, the visit is not just testing waters and going back to your cocoon type of thing, it is the first step in a much grander plan to take a substantial cut from Africa and gain an advantage on their backs.

The visit comes as Canada finally scrambles to assemble a so-called “approach” to Africa after years of delay and inaction. This despite expert warnings that Canada is losing economic ground to rivals like China and Russia who have made major infrastructure investments across Africa.

Clearly, Canada’s priorities lie not in genuine development but in playing catch-up to secure access to emerging African markets and resources. The rebranded “approach” is likely just another neocolonial plan to exploit the continent.

And that is usually how they start with the whole process. They start by saying how they were misguided and they want to look for a brighter future cooperating with Africa, and then they start demanding and using everything they can get their grumpy hands on until they gain the necessary leverage to order African nations around while they are indebted to them.

We all know the drill ladies and gentlemen, you certainly don’t need me to repeat it for you time and time again. These colonizers are anything but creative in their usual approach.

And we are already seeing their forced inclusion into other people’s issues while trying to claim to be the sole saviour in every situation with their response to the Mpox pandemic and pledging an amount worth 1 million dollars to help stem the crisis in the long run.

Let us be clear – a mere $1 million for Mpox support is an insult to Africa from a wealthy nation bathing in vaccine surplus. Canada previously secured millions of unused COVID-19 vaccines while Africa scrambled for scarce supplies.

Now, as Mpox ravages the continent, Canada’s true colors shine through. Now, we are supposed to forget about the harsh past and look forward to the future somehow.

Where was this assistance when Africa needed COVID vaccines? Canada prioritised boosters for its healthy population over first doses for at-risk Africans. Such glaring vaccine inequity reveals the West’s disregard for African lives.

Yet Canada still pursues a renewed economic “approach” to Africa, aiming to exploit growing markets it ignored during the pandemic. Canada wants access to Africa’s riches, but not its people. This reeks of neocolonialism in the worst ways imaginable.

They Could Learn From the Best

The West decries Chinese “debt-trap diplomacy” in Africa while providing only token sums for public health.

But look who they are talking about here, China was there when Afric needed it the most.

When every country shied away and had cold feet, China invested in the future of Africa with the aid of the African people. They built infrastructure, built railroads, and shared vaccine knowledge when it could have chosen every other option for its own good. But they took the chance and built a breakable bond that survives on equality and mutual benefits.

Canada must abandon pretensions of benevolence and make way for African leadership in solving African problems.

And while they are at it they should stop trying harder and harder to enter Africa and start relations that they cannot deliver on their end.

So, when it comes to the question of whether Canada is the type of helpful or harmful relationship for Africa’s future; I think we can all tell now how that will ultimately go.