No doubt the instability in our world breeds an air of fear and combativeness. Africa’s stagnation can be put down to the continuous volatility of regimes and the uncertainty it brings to neighbouring countries. In the past few days there was another coup in Madagascar, electoral violence in Guinea and the release of a British couple from Somalia. Perhaps the most unfortunate aspect of Africa’s liberation legacy was the fact that many of these young emerging countries first gained independence during the Cold War. The ebullient and determined leaders that hoped to define a continent were mostly purged or assassinated and replaced with military ‘yes’ men. History depicts them as charismatic, yet on the verge of lunacy; destroying the economies and importing arms by the shipload. Africa is still left awash with guns; most notably the AK47: the Kalashnikov.
Invented just after the Second World War, it was a cheap, effective, standardised weapon. Its global ubiquity stems from the planned Soviet economy, not capital markets of supply and demand; it was manufactured and stockpiled into the tens of millions, perhaps more. Cold War politics saw it sent to the Eastern Bloc, China, Korea and Egypt.
Most importantly, it was effective. It did not require much maintenance; it was long lasting and could pretty much be put into the hands of anyone. There are stories of American soldiers during the Vietnam and Iraqi wars dumping their own weapons for the more effective weapon of choice.
The AK47 is now the standard issue for the world’s terrorists and its iconography places its legacy in the hands of freedom fighters and revolutionaries. The armed struggle of Mozambique from its colonial overlord, Portugal, saw the AK47 have pride of place on the nation’s flag. Haille Mengistu Mariam of Ethiopia’s Derg reportedly took one to a cabinet meeting before opening fire on some of his minister’s. These all seem quite anecdotal, but the price for Africa with its porous borders and terrible post-colonial record has blotted the world’s image of war. The Kalashnikov’s lightness and ease of use has driven it into the hands of children; a legacy that caused devastation in Sierra Leone, Liberia and DR Congo. The unfortunate thing is that as long as there are poorly-paid soldiers and instability across the continent, then the AK will pen another chapter in its worldwide autobiography.
Invented just after the Second World War, it was a cheap, effective, standardised weapon. Its global ubiquity stems from the planned Soviet economy, not capital markets of supply and demand; it was manufactured and stockpiled into the tens of millions, perhaps more. Cold War politics saw it sent to the Eastern Bloc, China, Korea and Egypt.
Most importantly, it was effective. It did not require much maintenance; it was long lasting and could pretty much be put into the hands of anyone. There are stories of American soldiers during the Vietnam and Iraqi wars dumping their own weapons for the more effective weapon of choice.
The AK47 is now the standard issue for the world’s terrorists and its iconography places its legacy in the hands of freedom fighters and revolutionaries. The armed struggle of Mozambique from its colonial overlord, Portugal, saw the AK47 have pride of place on the nation’s flag. Haille Mengistu Mariam of Ethiopia’s Derg reportedly took one to a cabinet meeting before opening fire on some of his minister’s. These all seem quite anecdotal, but the price for Africa with its porous borders and terrible post-colonial record has blotted the world’s image of war. The Kalashnikov’s lightness and ease of use has driven it into the hands of children; a legacy that caused devastation in Sierra Leone, Liberia and DR Congo. The unfortunate thing is that as long as there are poorly-paid soldiers and instability across the continent, then the AK will pen another chapter in its worldwide autobiography.
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