Despite what the West may think, money alone does not resolve international crises.
The Human Rights Watch released a report Sept. 8 detailing allegations of sexual crimes committed by soldiers from the African Union Mission in Somalia in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.
The document alleges the personnel raped women and girls seeking refuge from the state violence.
While the perpetrators should ?individually be held responsible for their heinous crimes, the incidents are an example of the Western powers’ propensity to meddle in African affairs without much foresight.
First, Western states lack the proper perspective to assess and address much of the turmoil ensuing on the African continent. Since the withdrawal of British colonial forces in 1960, Somalia has fallen to authoritarianism, famine and terrorism in the form of al-Shabab.
Western powers could never understand the ethnic implications between factions within Somalia, much less the entire African population.
They could never fully comprehend the toll of colonialism upon the African psyche, particularly in a former British colony in which colonialism was practiced with a heavy hand.
Thus, because of Western ignorance, AMISOM personnel were introduced into a vulnerable population without consideration for the historical implications their presence could produce in the country, thus producing catastrophe.
Secondly, Western nations tend to provide aid to African entities without considering the credibility of the recipients.
The United Nations and the European Union are among supporters of AMISOM, a ccording to the Human Rights Watch.
In light of the grim situation in Somalia, the ground personnel would need comprehensive training the African Union cannot provide with its own resources.
While the UN and EU using soldiers from the African Union to address the Somali situation could be viewed as a step toward establishing a less intrusive relationship between the West and Africa, providing virtually unlimited funds to a weak multi-national organization with weaker member states is a recipe for ?disaster.
Lastly, regardless of the efforts taken to remain impartial, Western powers will invariably project Western ideals when engaged in an international crisis.
For centuries, fledgling countries around the world have emulated the ideals touted in Western political thought.
However, the ideals of liberty and equality are based in the context of the country seeking to obtain it.
Equality in the United States is not the same equality in Somalia.
Western powers must realize that differing perspectives regarding the same principle does not mean the perspective is bad or broken.
It is not wrong.
It is simply different.
Additionally, as a former British colony, Somalia has already experienced Western influence within its borders — with disastrous results.
The West must be cognizant of the long-term effects of its actions in foreign affairs.
Just because Britain has seen the error of its past imperialist ways does not mean Somalia has healed from the scars inflicted by the Europeans.
Although the Western powers mean well, the borderline ignorance with which they fund African humanitarian efforts frequently leads to more problems than progress.
