INTRODUCTION

To comprehend and understand the overall situation of today's Africa, one has to look at it from three angles; political angle, economic angle and social angle. The intersection point of these different issues but organically linked angles constitutes and reflects the reality of today's Africa's situation.

As young people who always being motivated and driven by hope, and in the face of the opportunities available, we can say with minimum confidence that the future of Africa continent is more brighter than at any point in the history. However, the amount of challenges confronting the continent do drastically minimizes the chances and leaves very little room for this optimism.

This is because of the hydra headed problems represented by the remaining dictatorial regimes in the continent, civil wars, poverty, effect of globalization and insecurity posed by the triplet of poverty, AIDS and terrorism.
However the gradually emerging democratic freedoms i.e. freedom of association participation, expression, good governance and the degree of participation and accountability resulting from this process in the majority of African countries remains strong basis and source of our optimism. The situation of African students can also be viewed against the background of the above order.

OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION

a) Political situation

Politically speaking, democratization and democratic governance has become the order of the system in the majority of African countries. Today out of 52 countries in Africa, democratic and multi-party elections of different degrees of transparency were held in more than 90% of the countries during the last decade. Other liberties including press freedom and free unionization and associations of civil society including the students are also in the process. Parliamentary and independent judicial systems are painful but steadily gaining roots in the political soil of the continent. Thus making the executive organs more accountable to the people. Examples of Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Mali and Zambia can be confidently cited in this effect. The recent transformation of the continental body, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) into more promising Africa Union (AU) which hope to be more realistic and participatory in nature in addressing African peoples concern is also a welcome development that took place in Africa.

The re-activation of the sub-regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and their engagement in resolving conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone in West Africa, Sudan and Somalia in East Africa, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Southern and Central Africa respectively is another healthy development in African affairs.

However, on a negative side there are key issues and areas remained as politically stumbling blocs. These includes civil wars that raging in number of African countries, pockets of desperately resisting dictatorial regimes and politics of religions fundamentalism that emanating from a number of African countries and constitutes as a source of global terrorism which also destabilize African region. It is also important to note that cases of the unfortunate stories of slavery and slave trade are being surprisingly reported in constant terms in Mauritania and Sudan.

Civil wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Angola continue ravaging. Millions of innocent civilians were either killed in the crossfire or being displaced as refugee elsewhere. For example in Sudan alone the UN have recorded that more than two millions people were being killed while more than four million being displaced in both internally and externally. As a result of this civil conflicts mentioned above an associated phenomena of man-made famine and starvation of people are in constant occurrence.

Somalia still remains a government less state and being ruled by lawless warlords of different factions. Even in the countries where the civil conflicts are over, like the case of Mozambique and that of Chad, issues of disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and integration remain matters arising with complicated dimension.

b) Economic Situation

Although, with different degree and stages, the situation is that most of the Africa economies, stand liberalized today with IMF and the World Bank conditionalities are tidily implemented in a number of countries. This also paved the way for the private sector participation. However, as the process of globalization gears up and the principles of he World Trade Organization (WTO) are getting implemented in a firmer manner. Africa's economies continue to suffer a more marginalised situation and disadvantageous position. At the same time the process of the integration of Africa economies and market remained slower. The average intra-Africa trade remained less than 10%. Africa's debt continues mounting as more than $300,000,000,000 (three hundred billion US dollars) are registered.

As more than 3/4 of African countries remained in the list of Least Developed Countries (LDC), many of them are compelled to be declared Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), which means to adopt even more stiffer IMF conditionalities. Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia among others are declared HIPC. Vicious cycle of poverty is in continual. This has made things very difficult for people to have access to higher education.

On positive side, programs and initiatives such as that of the European Union's, Cotonou Accord (formerly Lome Convention) and USA's Africa Growth and Opportunity Act initiative as partnership arrangements are on place. However the difficulties confronting Africa in benefiting from these arrangements arise from the fact that the playing ground is not leveled. Voices demanding a more closer and transparent examination of these initiatives are coming on daily basis, particularly from civil society.

c) Social Situation

Unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, corruption and the deadly disease of the AIDS are the most overriding problems that are confronting Africa's social situation. The unemployment, particularly among the young people and that of the rural populace constitutes major problems among the absolute majority of African countries. The HIV and AIDS are real threat. In Kenya for example over 40% of the secondary school students are HIV positive. African continent accounts for 80% of the AIDS case of the World. Illiteracy is exacerbated by the in-accessibility of the average Africa child to school.

OVERALL IMPACT ON STUDENTS SITUATIONS: THE STATE OF AFFAIRS

The overall political, economic and social situation presented above has particular impact on the situation of students and their movements in Africa both negatively and otherwise. Quite unlike the situation before a decade ago, the African students in the majority of African countries today gained their democratic rights, especially freedom of association and organization. This is the result of the democratization process that occurred and continues evolving. However the lack of accessibility to education and the general inadequate infra-structural facilities in education institutions continue unchanged and remained the main source of students unrest and subsequent violent confrontation with the authorities. This always leads to a violation of their rights. Presently, over two hundred students have been thrown out of the University of Kenya based on their political belief.

Its also important to mention the fact that the civil conflicts and wars do not only give the authorities free and arbitrary hands to resort to the forceful conscription of students into army, but their aftermath also poses problems to students as issues of their rehabilitation as war combatant becomes difficult. To address this kind of situations, the AASU Secretariat is currently embarking on a project that investigate, research and compile the student situation regarding violation of their rights.

CONCLUSION

From the panoramic view presented above concerning the African situation we can conclude that;
i. On the political front, democratization and democratic gains appeared to be and should be an irreversible process. The assurances for the continuity of this process are the removal of the stumbling blocs that include dictatorial regimes; the resolution of the on-going civil conflicts, elimination of the sources of global terrorism in the continent; and the encouragement of the already democratized systems to become more viable. In this regard international community's involvement is crucial
ii. Political reforms, though they are prerequisite for a more stable progress, they can however not be carried out in vacuum. They have to be linked with economic reforms. Thus the aggressive globalization, which further speeds up the marginalisation and weakening African economy need to be adequately address for revision.  In this regard peoples centered socio-economic policies should both be the obligation and responsibilities of the African governments.  However, the International community should also give a more responsible and responsive consideration to major issues confronting Africa's economies such as the debt crisis and leveling of the playing ground of the so called partnership initiative and that concerning the WTO policies.  A more transparent examination based on equal participation should be the political philosophy of co-operating with the African continent.
iii. The linkage of poverty and the spread of AIDS are inseparably connected.  The accessibility to and affordability of drugs related to the cure of AIDS are definitely far beyond average African capabilities.  Here again the international community cannot and should not run away from shouldering its responsibility.

Ladies and Gentlemen:, I thank you for inviting me as a speaker to this very important seminar.

Aluta continua! Victoria Ascerta!!
The Struggle continues! Victory is certain!!

DELIVERED IN GERMANY AT THE FZS/ESIB SEMINAR ON GATS AND PRIVATISATION OF EDUCATION
1-3 FEBRUARY 2002

OGUNLANA OLUDARE
Secretary-General, AASU.
All-Africa Students Union (AASU) Secretariat
State House Complex, Opp. Awudome Cemetery,
P.O.Box M274, Accra
Republic of Ghana
Tel: (233 - 24) 233092, (233-21) 784674
Fax: (233 - 21) 774821
Email: aasusecgen@yahoo.com
www.aau.org\aasu