February 1, 2022
By: Mohamed Jalloh
A Chinese friend once confided in me that “Africans your friends are in the east and not in the west”.
It is a statement that implies an exploitative tendency by western states in Africa with infinitesimal benefits in return.
Reading into this beyond the lines issues of catalyzing democracy and human rights as a prerequisite for foreign direct investment and developmental support comes to mind in relation to the west.
The relationship between Africa and western states span more than five centuries. It dates from slavery to colonialism.
After the granting of formal independence, the relationship has taken the form of neo-colonialism.
A calculated agenda witnessing the surge of Euro-American multinational companies has projected a scheme to exploit the natural and mineral resources of the continent.
During the 1960`s when the wave of decolonization was sweeping across the continent, many African states including Sierra Leone could only boast of a handful infrastructure that was bequeathed by the European colonizers.
In fact, Ports, railways and roads were constructed with the sole purpose of enhancing the exploitation and expropriation of natural resources to Europe. This was a deliberate policy that was fashioned to stifle the socio economic liberation of the local population.
The thinning out of this infrastructure from the interior to the Atlantic Ocean outpost is an authentication of the milking of the resources of the continent. It was an emboldened attempt to rape the continent without the creation of social amenities such as schools to guarantee the education and emancipation of indigenes.
With the exception of the Bo government school, Prince of Wales school and the Freetown Secondary School for Girls, the plethora of schools across Sierra Leone were established by the Catholic and other Christian missionaries.
Even the Fourah Bay College which is one of the oldest universities in sub-Saharan Africa was established by the Christian Missionary society (CMS) IN 1827.
Genuine efforts aimed at socio economic reconstruction were only intensified after the colonial masters have left.
Capacity gaps in education acquisition and human resource were later narrowed in the immediate post-colonial era. This was evidenced by the establishment of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology and the Njala University in 1963 and 1964 respectively.
In the economic sphere, the advice by western Bretton woods institution with regards the devaluation of the Leone in 1979 has led to the depreciation of the currency ever since and the nosedive plunging of the economy. Therefore, it simply begs the question of what real benefit Sierra Leone is deriving from her relationship with western countries?
When the China began establishing her foothold in Africa in the 1970`s, western countries became jittery of losing their grip and influence on the continent and have settled for a crying baby ever since. They become wary that their interest would be thwarted and jeopardized by the dragon master.
In a Chameleonic fashion, western states resorted to trivial medical aid and the funding of Non- governmental Organizations to support vulnerable and other right groups in the continent. These token gesture, are rendered in the guise of promoting democracy and good governance.
On the other hand, Sierra Leone’s relationship with China has produced tangible goodies unaffected by inferiority complex as is the case with western countries. By and large, international relationships are normally defined by benefits accrued and not colonial sentimental attachments. Sierra Leone and Taiwan use to enjoy a harmonious relationship. But when China provides better rewards than Taiwan, Late president Siaka Stevens dumped the Taiwanese in favour of the Chinese. He was foresighted enough to sense the extraordinary rapid rise of China in the immediate future as a global super power. In fact, Sierra Leone was the last country to vote the People`s Republic of China (PRC) for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during a vote at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to replace Taiwan. Thereafter, a diplomatic relationship was cemented between China and Sierra Leone on July 29 1971.
Chairman Mao Ze Dong of China immediately demonstrated gratitude to Sierra Leone by disbursing funds for the construction of the Siaka Stevens stadium at Brookfields.
The Yuoyi (which means friendship in mandarin) building was also erected as a show of testament of the bilateral relationship between the two states.
Fifty years have elapsed since the gargantuan Youyi building was instituted and it still remains the biggest building in Sierra Leone. At present, the Youyi building houses more than nine ministries and a plethora of departments and agencies to enhance civil service administration. If China has not risen up such massive infrastructure in Sierra Leone, would any western state dare towards boosting the country’s infrastructure in the name of friendship? The answer is an inevitable NO.
Moreover, another stadium was also constructed by the Chinese in Bo to serve as an alternative to the main stadium in Freetown. The China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) is also credited to constructing first class roads and bridges across the country including the Savage Street Bridge that links the central business district and the western part of the city.
In addition, the narrow Freetown- Masiaka highway was extended by the CRSG on a built, operate and transfer agreement with the government of Sierra Leone.
A model the government of Sierra Leone should consider adopting to building the Lungi Bridge across the river rokel estuary. The Chinese have further approved loan to kick start the Optical Fiber network phase two project aimed at easing Sierra Leone`s communication challenges. Western detractors have accused the Chinese of pursuing debt trap diplomacy ignoring the fact that China is generous enough to waive off these loans in the true spirit of friendship and international brotherhood. There lies the fundamental cultural difference between China and the western world in dealing with Africa. History had had it that the Chinese were the first to undertake long voyages and escapades across the Pacific Ocean into Africa. Rather than rob their host of their resources, as was the case with European colonizers, the Chinese brought along presents and gifts to African rulers to solidify the relationship.
On December 2020, the Chinese opted to construct Sierra Leone’s first ever foreign service academy as a form of Christmas gift to the nation. After completion, the academy will produce high value career diplomates by training young graduates. Existing Foreign Service staff will further upskill and reskill their talents in the academy to ensure higher productivity and sensitivity in dealing with the rest of the world. Rehabilitation of the Wilberforce military barracks is also ongoing by the Chinese. One hundred new students and more than thirty military officers are currently studying in China. Other treats and goodies from China include uncountable medical, security and food aid. However, a nation on a self-sufficiency drive should not whole heartedly rely on a foreign donor to attain sustainable development. On the long-term, the government of Sierra Leona must lobby the Chinese for the transfer of knowledge and technology and to further strengthen local capacities in every sector in order to achieve self-determination and sustainable socio economic development.