A United States of Africa which is being debated by the continent's leaders must exert moral authority and address the problems on its doorstep, former US presidential hopeful Jesse Jackson said Monday.
In an interview with AFP on the sidelines of the current African Union summit in Ghana, which is devoted to forging a closer union that has been dubbed by some as an alternative USA, Jackson said such an objective was achievable.
But he added that it would be "a slow, grinding debating process".
"So clearly the conflicts in (the continent's troublespots) must be tackled by a group that's credible," he said.
"The AU must deal with Somalia, Zimbabwe and Darfur, must have moral authority to set standards for human rights and democracy."
Jackson said it was no good for the continent's leaders to turn a blind eye to events in countries such as Zimbabwe where inflation is now around 5,000 percent and which has been racked by political violence.
"The growing conflict in Zimbabwe is affecting neighbouring states, it's affecting South Africa, it's affecting Mozambique and African development," he said.
He also said it was important that the United States become more involved in the troubles of the former British colony even if there could be no military solution there.
"The US should be more involved diplomatically than it is. It sees the crisis as far away. The global community has been shrunken by technology... For too long we have taken a distant position."
Jackson, who remains an influential figure on African affairs in the Democratic party, said the administration of US President George W. Bush had neglected Africa and allowed China to become more influential at its expense.
"This administration does not see in respectful terms African Americans and therefore by extension Africa," the former senator said.
"While they are dealing with Africa with a long arm, China is here in full force, penetrating the continent whith investment ... The US is losing ground on Africa."
Jackson also called on Africa to consider the creation of a common currency as part of any moves to forge closer unity which could carry weight outside the continent.
"They need a common currency. With the exception of the (South African) rand, no African currency has value in the north," he said.
