Resumo

KAMGA, Serges Djoyou. A call for a 'right to development'-informed pan-Africanism in the twenty-first century. Afr. hum. rights law j. [online]. 2019, vol.19, n.1, pp.418-444. ISSN 1996-2096.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2019/v19n1a20.

The pan-Africanism ideology originated from the subjugation of the African people, which manifested itself through slavery, and was followed by the foreign domination of the African development space. In addressing the problem, intellectuals (both in the diaspora and in Africa) came together through various activities that led to the adoption of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, and informed its transition into the African Union in 2002. Notwithstanding the apparent independence and unity of the continent, Africa's aspiration for freedom, equality, justice and development remains a dream. This article aims to demonstrate that pan-Africanism remains relevant to reclaim Africa's rightful place in the world. To this end it argues that the 'right to development' concept can lead to the development of Africa. It submits that a 'right to development'-informed pan-Africanism would lead to development of the African people. Pan-Africanism should be geared towards the realisation of development recognised as a human right as codified in the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and in other international instruments. This approach calls on Western powers and international institutions that shape the global development agenda to ensure that the international environment is conducive to the development of all, including Africans. Furthermore, it urges Western powers to respect the sovereignty of African countries over their wealth and natural resources. It also calls on African leaders to adopt a people-centred constitutionalism, to cooperate with each other and to adopt responsive national policies for the well-being of the African peoples and to establish an environment conducive to a vibrant civil society.

Palavras-chave : pan-Africanism; right to development; political independence; socio-economic rights; cultural self-determination; human rights and development; Africa.

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