INDICACIONES AL ALTA

Although this final discussion may at first appear disjointed from the main thrust of this study, I would suggest that the rise of information and communications technology presents an interesting challenge to the study of cross-border ‘movement’. Currently, borders are being physically crossed with a variety of aims and subsequent consequences. Whether legitimate or illicit, whether for positive or negative ends, the fluidity of movement across African borders is pervasive. Is this reality challenged, reinforced or enhanced by the growth of technologies that allow for a ‘virtual’ cross- border interaction, rather than a physical one?

Current data on the proliferation of information and communications technology in Africa is somewhat limited. However, the West African Borders and Integration (WABI) group has collated some significant information in this area. Drawing on the logic that European integration was not fully-fledged at signing of the Treaty of Rome, WABI contends that the same expectation cannot be applied to West African regionalism; that it is a processes, and not yet a developed reality (West African Borders and Integration, 2003-2006). Working alongside the Secretariat of the Sahel and West Africa Club, WABI’s main objective is to encourage the processes of integration through information sharing between the various players, and to promote research.

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To this end, WABI has gathered statistical data, illustrating trends such as mobile phone usage versus fixed line, export and import data for the region as a whole, fibre optic cables and their development, roads and transport links, and even population statistics based on soil quality. I will briefly touch on the interrelated technologies of mobile phones and the internet.

Connecting the disconnected

First-hand observation would indicate that certainly mobile phone usage has increased, and in particular areas has proliferated to a great extent. When walking through the bustling markets of Accra, mobile phone sellers abound and are even superseded in number by the prepaid phone card vendors. One can provide supposition as to why this might be, from the lack of fixed line infrastructure to the more flexible payment options associated with mobile phones. WABI (2005, p. 8) states that the growth rate for mobile phones in West Africa is higher than any other region of the globe. A recent UN International Telecommunication Union report (2009) found that “amongst the developing regions, Africa continues to have the highest mobile growth rate (32 per cent in 2006/2007) and mobile penetration has risen from just one in 50 people at the beginning of this century to over one fourth of the population today.”

And it’s not just the proliferation of the technology that is significant, but also the use to which mobile phones are being put. Not simply a method of communication, mobile phones in Africa are used to transfer funds between individuals (Rice, 2007), to access the internet for those in areas without broadband (Smith D. , 2009), and used by medical professionals to provide care for patients in inaccessible areas (Kimani, 2008). One newspaper article even discusses the use of mobile phones in Uganda by local fisherman, who now use their cell phones to call the various markets for their prices. This allows the fishermen to determine the most profitable market in which to sell their catch (Perkins, 2010).

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Related to the rise of mobile phone technology, is the expansion of internet accessibility in Africa. In terms of the penetration of internet technology, Africa lags behind the rest of the world, with only 5% of the population online, as of 2007 (United Nations International Telecommunications Union, 2009, p. 4). Although this represents an increase from 1% in 2002, it still falls short of the figures exceeding 40% for areas such as Europe and the Americas.

The UN International Telecommunications Union sees the expansion of internet, and in particular broadband, access as key to development, as it is essential for services such as e-commerce and e-government. However, the proliferation of mobile internet services and 3G networks may fill the void where traditional broadband lines are lacking. These 3G technologies allow for similar internet services delivered via broadband without the same infrastructural investment.

This access to communication and information on the part of Africans may have many unintended consequences, both positive and perhaps negative. Money transfers via SMS have been very beneficial, particularly in regions where access to bank accounts is limited. Some mobile phone companies have even expanded this service to allow business to pay salaries directly to the employee’s phone (Rice, 2007). However, just as positive transactions can occur, there exists the risk of individuals taking advantage of such new technologies for more nefarious purposes, such as money laundering, theft, or trade in illegal goods.

Regardless, all trends seem to point to the continued growth of the mobile phone and mobile broadband market in sub-Saharan Africa. The consequences of this expansion would be an interesting topic for further research, with respect to the issue of cross- border regionalism. Is it a driver for change with respect to micro-regional activity, or will it simply run alongside migratory patterns that currently exist?

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eRegionalism and Popular Uprisings

What occurs when people become increasingly interconnected through the use of communications technology? Recent examples of the influence of technology on political space are the popular uprisings occurring in the Middle East and North Africa. Although these conflicts are not caused by technology, it can be argued that their promotion, spread and organization have been directly influenced by new technologies, and in particular the wider access to social media.

A confluence of factors has been described as key in these uprisings, and includes disaffected youth with little access to employment and ready access to social media. During popular protests in Tunisia, for example, strict controls were put on internet and the media, to inhibit the spread of anti-government protests. Regardless, protesters managed to communicate their intentions through Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and text messages (Lewis, 2011). The swift result of the protests that eventually led to President Ben Ali fleeing the country is said to have influenced the growing unrest in Egypt. Indeed the BBC has the overthrow of Ben Ali as the first event in their “Egypt protests” timeline (BBC News Africa, 2011).

With the resignation of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt in mid-February, and the current escalation of violence in Libya, political commentators are questioning how far this wave of popular unrest will spread. Interestingly, in late January China blocked the search term “Egypt” in the country, for fear that the example might spur popular unrest (Sacks, 2011).

As a crude compilation of data29, the table below collates some of the variables that may be influencing these political events.

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173 Country Population (millions) Median age Joblessness (%) Population below the poverty line (%) Internet users (% of total population) Mobile telephone users (% of total population) Egypt 84.5 24 9.6 20 23.7 65 Libya 6.5 24.2 30 33 5.38 76.9 Tunisia 10.5 29.7 14 38 33.33 93.3 Yemen 24.3 17.89 35 45.2 9.05 34

Côte d’Ivoire 21.5 19.5 Estimates around 40-50% due to violence

42 4.5 62

Tunisia has one of the highest rates of internet users in the region and in particular a high penetration of social media, with 21% of the population registered as Facebook users (SocialBakers, 2011).

Can we extrapolate any findings that may have salience for Côte d’Ivoire? In many respects the situation in Côte d’Ivoire does not mimic that in the Middle East. It is facing civil war rather than a lone authoritarian ruler. Moreover, the penetration of the internet and social media is comparatively low. However, Côte d’Ivoire does have a very young population, with an estimated high rate of unemployment and the mobile phone penetration is very high.

Obviously this presentation of data is extremely rudimentary, but there is an interesting opportunity for further research into the application of various forms of new communications technology and their impact on political and social movements, that have the ability to transcend borders. Will these technologies eventually be used more readily in sub-Saharan African as the penetration of the technology increases? How might it differ from the way in which technology and social media is currently being used in North Africa and the Middle East?