From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Thu Nov 26 2009 - 09:09:12 EST
Cry, Beloved Africa Cry
By Esi Barko
Date: 26-Nov-2009
http://www.businessghana.com/portal/news/index.php?op=getNews&id=116951
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The African Continent, which is the richest and the second largest of the
world, is perceived perhaps to be the most worried region on the planet.
Economic, political and environmental improvements are all at risk on the
Continent due to the numerous conflicts that have plagued it. Despite its
wealth in terms of both human and natural resources, extreme poverty and
hunger abound in the Region.
Displaced people; poor food production due to competition over land and
resources; growing inequality among the masses and communities; increasing
crime rate and corruption are some of the many problems that have engulfed
this rich Continent of ours.
In Liberia, Angola and Sierra Leone, the control and exploitation of
diamond, timber and oil were some of the reasons that led to protracted wars
in these countries. Control over these resources financed the various
factions that gave them the means to continuously sustain the conflict.
Many deaths were recorded whiles thousands of women and girls were raped
with a lot more people having their limbs chopped off; a trend in other
conflicts on the Continent.
In the Darfur Region of Sudan, over one million people are internally
displaced while 200,000 have been forced to flee to other countries as
refugees when the Janjaweed militia decided to attack their fellow black
Africans over there. The death toll is unimaginable.
President Al Bashir of Sudan has been accused of complicity in the Janjaweed
attacks. A charge he has always dismissed.
It always baffles the mind of young intellectual Africans when they have to
read and watch Africans decimating each other especially over petty issues.
In 1997, Eritrea and its neighbour Ethiopia embarked on the journey one
would call 'exchange of bullets' when the former decided to embark on a
journey of self determination.
Italy, the Colonial Masters of Abyssinia, the former name of the land where
the two occupy, left in a hurry in 1952 leaving the vast field open for all
sort of political poaching. Ethiopia dominated the affairs of that little
territory called Eritrea to the dislike of its occupants. This had to be
settled in a referendum held in 1993 in which 99.8 per cent of the voters
voted in favour of independence without clearly defined borders.
This resulted in thousands of death and millions of dollars meant for
developmental projects channelled into the purchase of weapons by both
sides. There were outbreaks of diseases such as diarrhoea; pneumonia;
malnutrition and pre-industrial disease. That conflict was declared the most
deadly since World War II.
Sometimes, one would be forced to accept the fact that some African folks
hate stability and would go to every length to ensure that a stable and well
planted government was over thrown due to their own parochial interests.
How often do African Leaders sacrifice the interest of many on the altar of
selfishness; greed and nepotism? If African would only learn to respect the
majority decision and the rule of law, this rich Continent of ours would go
a long way to become one of the most well developed Continents because it
abounds in natural resources.
It is sad to note that most African Leaders allow themselves to be
manipulated by external forces especially, the West to achieve their selfish
interests and desires.
The United States supported Mobutu Sese Seko to overthrow Patrice Lumumba,
the Prime Minister of Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo). Mobutu
metamorphosed into a dictator. Power was concentrated in Mobutu, who, backed
by Western intelligence agencies became the foothold of US in the Region to
counter the activities in neighbouring countries including Angola. He
established a one-party state and a cult of personality. He suppressed
tribal conflicts and encouraged a sense of nationhood, but at the same time
amassed a huge personal fortune through economic exploitation and
corruption, leading some to call his rule "kleptocracy." The nation suffered
from uncontrolled inflation, a large debt, and massive currency
devaluations. By 1991 economic deterioration and unrest led him to agree to
share power with opposition leaders, but he used the army to thwart change
until May, 1997, when rebel forces led by Laurent Kabila expelled him from
the country. Mobutu died in Morocco.
It is believed that the 1960s, United States supported Mobutu Sese Seko,
then a non-commissioned officer, to ruin the reign of Patrice Lumumba, the
then Prime Minister of Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo).
Kabila came to power in 1997 after the overthrow of Mobutu with the
assistance of Angola, Eritrea and Uganda. Elements in the Congolese army who
were also not happy about the rule of Kabila also assassinated him in 2001
and he was succeeded by his son Joseph Kabila at the tender age of 28.
For years D.R. Congo never knew peace due to the unbridled competition to
get access to exploit the rich mineral resources of that country. The
beneficiaries were the top and the most powerful people in that country and
some multinational companies.
The good news is that somewhere in West Africa, a government has decided to
be pro-active. The Nigerian Government's decision to give 10 per cent of oil
revenue to the people of Niger Delta for development projects is very
laudable. The people of the Niger delta deserve it and even better.
This should give the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
(MEND), the militia championing the cause of the Niger Delta, a reason to
lay down their arms.
The Niger Delta, which produces the bulk of Nigerian oil has now became
synonymous with conflicts, militarism, pollution and all the evil that one
can think of.
Oil production in this Region is carried out by Mobil, Shell, Chevron, Elf
and the rest. The moral question is; why are these big time oil producing
companies not willing to use a little of their profits generated from the
drilling of oil to better the lives of these people whose lives are at risk
due to their very activities?
None would doubt that the people in that area deserve better. They have
suffered enough indignation. Conditions in those areas are so deplorable and
life threatening due to oil spillages.
The murder of Ken Saro Wiwa, Writer and Activist, by the dictatorial Abacha
Regime in 1998 is now a huge scar on the conscience and image of Nigeria.
Africa is for all Africans and it behooves all the people of the Continent
especially, the Leaders to eschew those negative tendencies that do not make
for a better Continent. They should learn to become more dedicated to the
cause of the people and eschew greed, nepotism, corruption and conflicts
that they have allowed to become the characteristic the Continent.
Africa needs re-branding in order to take its proper place on the world
stage. Its Leaders must learn to let the interest of the people come first
in all their undertakings.
