Namibia (Commonwealth) _ Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, argues the present battle among major world powers for access and control of Africa’s crucial raw materials has replicated a scenario last seen during World War II. Nandi-Ndaitwah spoke at the 9th session of the chiefs of mission conference in Windhoek.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also the Swapo presidential candidate for 2024, believes Africa is caught up in a global power struggle, owing to the continent’s abundant stocks of raw resources, which are important for today’s technological breakthroughs.
According to her, the transition from cooperative diplomacy to cutthroat rivalry among big nations has resulted in a shift from trade liberalism to trade protectionism.
We are witnessing big nations pursue unilateral policies geared at maximizing their dominance at the expense of others and the international system that has kept the peace since World War II’s end, according to Nandi-Ndaitwah.
As a result, Africa has become entangled in this tangled geopolitical battle since our continent is blessed with such important raw commodities, which we must protect for the sake of our people, according to Nandi-Ndaitwah. According to her, there is a rising trend away from multilateralism and toward unilateralism as a result of rivalry among major global powers.
The question is, how can we, as poor countries, negotiate a world marked by increasing unilateralism? Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized Namibia’s adherence to the conviction that multilateralism is the most efficient method of ensuring peaceful cohabitation in an unpredictable environment.
According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Global North can only take the concerns and interests of the Global South into account through multilateralism. She emphasized the importance of linking these two geopolitical trends – competitiveness and unilateralism – to the rise in global wars as major nations compete to strengthen and extend their global influence.
According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, the globe is now experiencing a troubling surge in conflict breakouts, with significant examples in African regions such as central and west Africa. Security issues are endangering our peace and our efforts to achieve continental integration and economic emancipation, according to Nandi-Ndaitwah.
She emphasized that history has taught many global lessons, citing the war between Russia and Ukraine as an example of how reliance on food imports may jeopardize national food security. In recent months, prominent global powers have struck exclusive arrangements with numerous African governments to guarantee access to critical natural minerals.
The European Union (EU) announced a N$20 billion investment in Namibia’s developing green energy and raw materials industry last week. President Hage Geingob acknowledged Namibia’s extraordinary renewable energy assets as the cornerstone for developing a sustainable and prominent green industrial sector during the introduction of this collaboration.
During his recent visit to Brussels, Geingob restated Namibia’s position that it will no longer export key raw commodities. Geingob also stated yesterday at the 9th session of the chiefs of mission conference that Namibia is dedicated to establishing relations with all nations in order to promote world peace.
Geingob stated that he invented the slogan ‘Namibia is a friend to everyone and an enemy to none’ to represent Namibia’s attitude in world politics, but added that this does not imply passive participation in geopolitics.
When we observe something that contradicts our ideas of unity, liberty, and fairness, we must and shall speak up, not maliciously, but with genuine concern. We are happy to be valued members of the world community, but our regard must stem from ideals and international solidarity, not unthinking obedience, according to Geingob.
At the same time, he stated that Namibia recognizes the necessity of avoiding involvement in crises that are not of its making and maintains the constitutional concept of settling international problems peacefully.
