Sustainable Blue Economy Conference: A Continuation of Pillaging Africa’s Resources

Kenya hosted the first ever-Global High-Level Conference on the Global Sustainable Blue Economy in Nairobi from 26th to 28th November 2018. The main theme of the conference was “The blue economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”  The conference was co-hosted with Canada and Japan. The aim of the conference was to learn how to build a blue economy that harnesses the potential of the world’s oceans and waterbodies in order to improve the lives of all. African leadership was highly represented with AU’s chair Paul Kagame and AU’s Commission chair Mousa Faki amongst others in attendance. (www.blueeconomyconference.go.ke)

It is important we mention the following in order to understand what is behind the conference:

First: Commonwealth in 2013 signed a Commonwealth Blue Charter that was an agreement by all 53 Commonwealth countries to actively co-operate to solve ocean-related problems and meet commitments for sustainable ocean development. The Charter provides the underlying principles for the Blue Charter, ensuring that the Commonwealth takes a fair, equitable, inclusive and sustainable approach to ocean economic development and protection. Furthermore, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on April 2018 in London, Britain, it led to formation of Commonwealth Blue Charter Action Groups that are member-driven, led by ‘Champion’ countries. Eleven (11) countries stepped forward to be Champions on eight topics they identified as priorities. Action Groups will unlock the power of 53 nations and guide the development of tools and training. (bluecharter.thecommonwealth.org)

Second: Kenya, Canada and Fiji are three out of the 11 Commonwealth countries that stepped forward as champion countries of the said eight priorities. Kenya will champion an Action Group on developing an integrated approach to the Blue Economy, pushing for the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and ocean ecosystem health. Canada will champion an Action Group on Ocean Observations. Fiji will champion an Action Group on Ocean and Climate Change. (bluecharter.thecommonwealth.org)

Third: United Nations (UN) during the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015 in New York City, USA; the 193 member countries of the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Development Agenda titled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” The agenda has 17 Goals, which include Goal No.14: Life Below Water. It aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources. Furthermore, United Nations organized the first ever “The Oceans Conference” from 5th to 9th June, 2017 at New York City, USA. It was followed by the appointment of Mr. Peter Thomson of Fiji as UN Special Envoy for the Ocean on 12th September 2017 to follow up on the outcomes of the United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference.  (www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment)

Fourth: World Bank organized a conference on “Financing Sustainable and Climate –Resilient Ocean Economies in Africa” from 19th to 23rd, February 2018 at The Savoy Hotel, Seychelles. The conference’s aim was to enhance knowledge and highlight innovative solutions on how Africa can maximize finance to support sustainable blue economy initiatives. The sustainable development of African blue economies is a way to diversify these economies and enhance their resilience in the face of climate change. (www.worldbank.org)

Fifth: The blue economy has been described as the ‘New Frontier of the African Renaissance’. Its potential for a continent on which almost two thirds of its states have a coastline, whose trade is 90 percent sea-borne and whose lakes constitute the largest proportion of surface freshwater in the world, is enormous. Indeed, its potential runs into the many trillions of dollars and promises to combine enormous economic growth with environmental conservation, if stewarded properly. Africa Union’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS 2050) provides a robust roadmap to fully exploit the potential of its oceans and seas and the first Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi this week provided African nations the opportunity to solidify this continental framework. (IPS, 21/11/2018)

It is very clear that this conference is being micromanaged by the greedy secular capitalist nations especially Britain and America in partnership with their respective allies and organizations that operate with their blessings across the world and especially in Africa. These western colonialist nations are currently embroiled in a 21st Century Economic War that is costing each of them billions of shillings! Therefore, everyone is seeking for a way to cushion themselves from economic suffering and Africa is part of their evil plan disguised as caring and concerned for Africa! Unfortunately, Africa once again is at the center of their economic conflict and since Africa and its puppet rulers oscillates between western colonial masters; it will be used as an economic buffer zone by the most savvy colonial master! The blue economy initiatives will be exploited fully by the western secular capitalist nations to continue the pillaging of resources of the already languishing African Continent! Furthermore, the blue economy will threaten fishing communities with extinction, misappropriation of land amongst other issues related to Africa’s coastline caused by secular colonial multinationals’ materialistic thirst for profits! (VOA, 27/11/2018) With its leadership being awarded for their wonderful role in realizing their colonial masters’ plots for instance President Uhuru Kenyatta received a special award from the African Union Commission (AUC) on Tuesday, 27 November 2018 for his role in hosting the world’s first blue economy conference! (The Star, 28/11/2018).

Africa’s genuine potential and renaissance can only be realized under the banner of the Khilafah. Khilafah restablished on the method of the Prohethood will guarantee that Africa’s ground is free from western colonialists by cutting their ties and their invalid secular capitalist ideology which is the root-cause of Africa’s both mental slavery and socio-economic stagnation! Furthermore, the Khilafah will provide Africa with the alternative and necessary ideological Islamic guidance that will emancipate Africa from the corrupt mental slavery to the highest level of Islamic personalities and prosperity. Only the Khilafah will provide genuine friendship and act as a role model to Africa for its realization of true tranquility and development in all sectors of life.

Ali Nassoro Ali

Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya