Internal resolution may be what Africa needs

I feel like everyday there is a new story of continued conflict and corruption in Africa (this is probably reinforced by my fall promseminar: Comparative Corruption in the US and Africa). The region is riddled with constant ethnic conflict, governmental corruption, and the falling apart of leadership. (Note: I am not trying to make a broad generalization about the continent.) However, recently, the stories have tilted towards the inability of outsiders to correct the situation. Is outside help doing more harm than good?

The most recent example of this is the new reports that UN peacekeepers in the DR Congo (one of the most troubled countries) armed rebel soldiers, as well as being involved in the illegal trade of gold and other goods. These US troops came in to the country to stop the rebellion, disarm soldiers, and establish peace and instead they only added to the destruction and chaos. While this may be an isolated incident, we cannot ignore the possibility that this may have happened on other peacekeeping missions as well, and that UN troops may be unable to resist the temptation of illegal activities or the pull of the rebels.

Additionally, the mess of elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe shows the incompetence of outside election monitors. There were thousands present in both elections, and yet the results have been widely disputed and controversial. This incident is certainly not the first incident of African elections gone wrong, and these are not the only elections where outside monitors have been present.

The pattern of outsiders being unable to help resolve the problems of Africa is one that needs to be paid close attention to (this is not to disregard the incredible effort that has been put forth, nor to ignore organizations and individuals who have had success in the region). The problems of countries in Africa are very much rooted in the colonial past, especially in how the country was initially divided up, with no concern for the interactions of various ethnic groups in the area. Since it stems from something that no one initially understood, and to this day many still do not understand, perhaps Africa's issues need to be resolved from the inside. The formation of the African Union has certainly been a step in the right direction, and although I think they should take the lead on resolution, they still need the support of international institutions and entities.