Africa is Indeed Rising

and Israel is its greatest regional partner

My wife is South African, and at least once every year since we’ve been married, we spend about a month visiting family in South Africa. Each time I get the pleasure of going, I am always amazed at some of my wife’s friends and colleagues that have become my friends. The work they do in the entrepreneurial space, technology, investing money, time, and energy into young Africans continues to remind me that Africa as a continent is on the rise with or without assistance. As refreshing as it is to witness, it is even more so sobering; sobering because of the level of resistance and warfare our friends face in their mission to uplift their country and the continent. This warfare is both internal and external with an overwhelming amount of powerful players invested in Africa staying where she has been for nearly five decades.

I do not use the term warfare lightly. On the most recent South Africa visit, I spoke with a good friend of ours who empowers entrepreneurs to grow, own, and become more financially independent. His business spans across the continent of Africa and in other countries like Israel. We talked a great deal about the success he has had, the entrepreneurs who now own shares in very successful companies, and the lives positively changed from all of this work. In hearing all of this, I asked my friend if he has received any opposition. My friends immediately said to me that the opposition is everywhere, from countries like China not interested in Africa rising to political leaders within South Africa who have sold out their country who aren’t interested in Africa rising. My friend looked at me and told me that once he has significantly contributed to helping economically liberate South Africa, he will have to pack up his family and leave the country. When I asked him why, he said, “because my life will be in danger.”

This is not an uncommon sentiment expressed amongst agents of change in Africa. Ghanian economist, author, and president of Free Africa Foundation, George Ayittey has spoken and written extensively on this very issue since the 1980s. In his 2005 book, Africa Unchained, Ayittey lists many Africans who have been assassinated (or have mysteriously died) for exposing corruption in their country. He then begins to talk about a Zimbabwean businessman named Strive Masiyiwa. Ayittey writes:

I will relate one last story, which illustrates the difficulties this new generation faces. Strive Masiyiwa is another cheetah; he has been hounded and persecuted in Zimbabwe for refusing to submit to President Mugabe's corrupt rule. In 1993, Masiyiwa challenged Mugabe, demanding his right to start a cell phone business. For almost five years, the president tried to prevent him from setting up his company, fearing the establishment of any telecommunications network outside official control. But Masiyiwa was not deterred and fought back through the courts, arguing that the behavior of the state telephone monopoly violated the constitutional right to free speech. In 1995, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Masiyiwa, and he started setting up base stations around Harare, with the help of Swedish telecommunications giant Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson. It was then that Mugabe entered the fray. "Mugabe issued a presidential decree, making it illegal for any private business to build a cellular network. Offenders faced two years in jail" (The Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2000; p.A24). Ericsson abandoned the project at one point and Masiyiwa had to hide in the trunk of his car to avoid arrest. But the Supreme Court struck down the decree as unconstitutional and Mugabe backed down.

Africa Unchained, XXII

Mr. Masiyiwa is still considered a public enemy in the eyes of the Zimbabwean government and some of the Zimbabwean people to this day. To many others, both in Zimbabwe and across the continent, he was a champion of justice and anti-corruption but delisted this fact, today, almost thirty years later, his life would be in danger were he to return to Zimbabwe. He and his wife, Tsitsi Masiyiwa still do incredible work through Higher Life Foundation, an initiative that invests in people to help solve Africa’s most pressing issues.

This is the theme amongst many young African leaders today. These are the conversations taking place for which I have had the privilege of being a fly on the wall. I’ve been on the Clubhouse app, in rooms led by Kenyan entrepreneur and musician, Simon Javan Okelo. Discussions have centered around changing the narrative of Africa, and the obstacles in the way of doing so.

It seems as if no country wants to see an Africa return to the rich, opulent, breadbasket she once was; as if no country wants to see Africa free from having its minerals mined and sold back to Africa at exorbitant rates. No country seems to want to see Africa for who she truly is. No country, it seems, except Israel. This is why Israel employs the same tactics that other African pioneers employ for their own countries; tactics of empowerment and not charity. Non-Government Organizations like Innovation: Africa simply removes barriers so that children in African villages can have a better education. Government organizations like IsraAid have their First In, Last Out model, where they are often the first to respond to natural disasters in other countries to provide medical aid and damage control, but then stay long-term to learn the internal problems and assist those combatting them.

Terrorism has become arguably the most pressing issue on the continent as African countries have become the new hotbed for terror according to the Global Terrorism Index, the rate of terrorist attacks has dropped in the Middle East and risen dramatically many African countries. Israel’s expertise in counter terrorism makes them a perfect strategic partner for Africa, and this effort has already been taking place.

This empowerment model can be found in Ghana, Kenya, and even Sub-Saharan Africa. Truly seeking to empower Africa is dangerous business, and luckily, Israel is no stranger to threats on its very existence. Whereas many leaders can be too afraid to speak out for fear of losing their lives, Israeli philanthropists and entrepreneurs face existential threats every day. One does not need to worry about making enemies when one has so many already. Israel sees Africa rising to new heights, and Africa will rise. She will rise whether or not she has assistance from any other country. The more she can realize who is not her friend, the more the world will see what a true friendship between nations is supposed to look like.

In due season, one will not be able to utter the name Israel without immediately uttering the name Africa. What we need now is young leaders of Africa to continue moving up, speaking out, and doing the courageous work of unchaining their beloved continent.