'Missionary' Blair's African crusade Prime minister risks cynicism and failure as he tries to 'heal' luckless continent Lucy Ward, political correspondent Friday February 1, 2002 The Guardian In 10 Downing Street the suitcases, only lately emptied after the prime minister's frenetic shuttling to build a global coalition against terrorism, are being packed again. Next week Tony Blair will embark on another mission with potentially even greater scope for failure, as he sets out to honour his pledge to address the "scar on the conscience of the world" that - in his own phrase - is the plight of Africa. The four day trip to west Africa with the development secretary, Clare Short, scheduled to take in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and possibly Sierra Leone, is billed as only the start of a long term British commitment - underlined by the prime minister at last autumn's Labour party conference - to help tackle the myriad problems facing the continent. Yet Blair has barely caught his breath after his post-September 11 diplomatic endeavours, and the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, returned only last week from his own mission to Africa's troubled Great Lakes region. Why would a prime minister, particularly one already facing criticism for wanting to save the world when his own trains do not run on time, seek to take on such extreme challenges as the conflict in the Congo, whose civil war has dragged in surrounding states and killed over 2.5m in the past three years? A commitment to try to "heal" Africa is high risk, as officials have cautioned. He has brushed aside any suggestion that he subdue his rhetoric, just as he will reject any tabloid grumbling over next week's trip. The visit is in fact only the most visible manifestation of a determination to focus on Africa proclaimed as a second-term priority by Mr Blair in the run-up to last year's general election, and developing more quietly for at least a year before that. At the G8 summit in Genoa last July he - with Canadian support - press-ganged fellow members to back a so-called "Marshall plan" for Africa, and in September hosted a meeting with six African leaders at Chequers to discuss partnership between the continent and developed nations. "The message to engage with Africa has gone out clearly from the top," says one Foreign Office source. But even close observers struggle to identify exactly what first sparked the prime minister's personal interest in the continent. "It is something of a mystery," admits a government insider. "Blair does have a strong admiration - even hero worship - for Mandela, who is a rare symbol of what is achievable in Africa, so that may be part of it." Another notes that Mr Blair's father, Leo, visited Sierra Leone University several times in the 1960s as a law lecturer - possibly laying the foundations for his son's later determination to intervene in the troubled state, while others point to his friendship at university with several African students who went on to involvement in politics in their home continent. The real spark for Mr Blair's determination to add Africa to his growing list of personal causes, however, seems likelier to have been his experience of government itself. A veteran of military interventions in the Gulf, Kosovo and now Afghanistan, the prime minister has increasingly taken a global perspective, insisting that the troubles of one country not only impact on others but imply a responsibility on fellow states to help or intervene. September 11 served only to confirm this borderless world view, prompting a conference speech focusing on a new world order of interdependence which enthralled and infuriated in equal measure. For some his unashamedly moral tone - particularly when directed at the problems of Africa - prompted furious accusations of a new, deluded, colonialism driven by a missionary's desire to make "them" like "us". Critics and supporters alike detected the influence ofMr Blair's Christian beliefs in his determination to venture into Africa. Those who have dealt directly with Mr Blair over Africa incline away from such ready interpretations. Oona King, the forthright Labour MP, campaigner for the continent and self-declared atheist, insists: "It has nothing to do with religion. Obviously religion says you should try to help those in need; well, so does socialism." Fresh from a meeting with Mr Blair over the Great Lakes conflict, she offers a simpler explanation. "It's like the Spike Lee film says - it's a question of 'do the right thing'. It's a very simple fact that we have some responsibility, as a responsible society, to a continent which has more problems than any other." The influence of Ms Short, who has overseen a shift in development focus towards Africa, and Britain's efforts to chivvy the international community over aid and debt, are also regarded by many as important in shaping Blair's African crusade. A nation grown cynical by a culture of spin and by a prime minister striking increasingly presidential poses may be less than ready to credit Mr Blair with such worthy motives. The suspicion is of glory-hunting, or of pandering to Labour's bleeding heartland vote, while Britain's public services slide into further decay. Diplomats, conventionally wary of venturing into others' apparently intractable conflicts, point out that intervention in Africa is a far from easy route to international glory. Mr Blair could fail in his mission to persuade the international community to take Africa seriously, or the instability spread by countries such as Zimbabwe could tip further out of control. "He is prepared to go out on a limb," says one present at the Genoa summit. "He is taking a big risk - fixing Africa is incredibly difficult to do." The Chequers summit last September, which Mr Blair held as planned just days after the World Trade Centre attacks when almost every other engagement was cancelled, is seen as evidence of real prime ministerial commitment to Africa. An observer who was present sees Blair's African focus as a product of his conviction that globalisation, though highly problematic, offers the most promising route for developing countries to move forward. "He feels globalisation is an energy, a way of bringing prosperity. But he recognises that this simply isn't going to work for Africa and so he is determined to engage the international community and African leaders to try to ensure it can experience those benefits." By next week the prime minister will be moving beyond the question of motives and into the phase of delivery. Cynicism may be dispelled if he makes progress, but it will be increased if his deeds are not seen to match his rhetoric. Focusing on 'a moral challenge' "The state of Africa is a scar on the conscience of the world. But if the world as a community focused on it, we could heal it. And if we don't, it will become deeper and angrier." Tony Blair, October 2001 "The lasting legacy of the summit will be in respect of Africa where, in effect, the leading countries of the world and the African leaders have come together and agreed a plan ... for the future of Africa ... I think that is a very important and a very significant step forward." Mr Blair at G8 summit, July 2001 "The Labour party stood shoulder to shoulder with the African National Congress in its fight against apartheid. Now both our parties are in government that bond is strengthened by a common commitment to unite our nations in pursuit of a better life. We both believe the fight against poverty in Africa is the most pressing moral challenge of our time." Tony Blair and Thabo Mbeki, Guardian, June 2001 "When people say 'run an ethical foreign policy', I say Sierra Leone was an example of that, not an example of not doing it. It is up in the high ground." Mr Blair on arms to Africa, May 1998 Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>