This archive report was first published on 29 August 2021.
Published on August 29, 2021, a Nairobi conference sparked a crucial discussion about the term 'Middle East' and its relevance to Africa.
From a European perspective, the term 'Middle East' makes sense, referring to the lands and peoples between Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, this definition is problematic when viewed from an African standpoint, as it lumps Africa around the Mediterranean together with lands north of the Red Sea.
Halford Mackinder's geopolitical theory, which posits that control of the 'heartland' in Eastern Europe is synonymous with control of the world, is also challenged by the changing global landscape. The natural resources in the region have turned it into the real 'heartland,' making Eastern Europe peripheral.
Aspiring regional powers like Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are competing to focus on Africa, but their challenge is to claim and assert their African identity without losing leverage in Europe or among their neighbors.
Africans are questioning their own relations with others, and it's essential to start by questioning definitions and the language of relationship. The term 'Middle East' makes sense only in the context of European relations with Asian countries like India, China, or Japan. From an African perspective, it's more accurate to refer to the region as 'Middle North' rather than 'Middle East.'
By shifting the discussion from Euro-mind frames to African mind frames, Africa becomes the starting point rather than the ending point in any geopolitical configuration. This redefinition helps to shift the focus from what others are doing to Africa to what Africans may be doing to others and to themselves.
