Akua Djanie Refle c t ions of an Ordinary Woman
Where was the AU?
I find it shocking that the African Union (AU) took too long to say anything about the events in North Africa. Maybe it is because it would have looked like the pot calling the kettle black. On the other hand, it could have been because of any number of reasons which we are not aware of.
A
t the time I was writing this reflection, the protests in North Africa and the Middle East had been going on for over a month. There have been unconfirmed reports of thousands of people killed in Libya, Yemen, Bahrain,
Egypt and Tunisia. We have seen footage of people who have been injured, blood oozing from their faces, looking helpless. The question on everyone’s lips was, why did the AU take so long to say anything, especially in the case of Libya. It has now set up a High-Level Panel of Heads of State on Libya, but why did it take so long for the AU to act or say anything on the events in North Africa? America, the United Nations, the European Union and other high-profile politrikcians all made their comments on the situation in Libya in particular and the Middle East in general. We also saw a number of people who were once on Mum-
mar Al Gathafi’s team defecting, not only from him personally but the country as well. Some, like Nour Al Mamari, Gathafi’s former head of protocol, were even bold enough to speak out against the inhumane acts being committed in Libya. Yet the AU, individual African political leaders, and other prominent members of African society, stayed silent. Why? I have my own answers. But before I even start to break
finally saying enough is enough. How can one group of people have access to all the wealth of the land, whilst the majority go without? How can this same group of people mismanage the natural resources of the land so that the people walk around hungry, unemployed and feeling hopeless? Presidents, prime ministers and other political figures in
“People are tired of leaders who take the task of governing as if it was a private business to be handled in any way they please.”
things down for you, let us remind ourselves why people are demonstrating in some parts of North Africa and the Middle East. From Tunisia to Libya, people are saying they are tired of being ruled by leaders who have been in power for generations. They are tired of leaders who, after taking power, forget all about why they are where they are. Schools, employment, good roads, security, all the things African leaders promise never seem to materialise. Because whether it is on a campaign trail or by the bullet, potential leaders promise things to people. Things that people need to improve their lives. So from North to South, from East to West, people across
Africa are tired of leaders who surround themselves with family, friends, old school chums and sycophants. People are tired of leaders who take the task of governing as though it was a private business to be conducted in any which way they please. People are tired of leaders who seem to have very little regard for the people they are meant to be governing. What is happening across the Middle East is about people
64 | April 2011 New African
Europe and America can afford to come out with strong state- ments against Gathafi because their political history is not as I have just described. Whether votes are rigged or not (anybody remember George Bush in Texas?), the results of an election are accepted by all and sundry. Thus the party that has been voted into power goes about doing their business of governing the peo- ple. True, there is poverty in Europe and America and although it is meant to be so, not everyone has equal opportunities. Yes, Europe and America also have homeless and unemployed people. And yes it is true that there is discrimination, and just like in Africa, people in Europe and America also use “who you know” to get what they want. But there is one major difference. Unlike in Africa, there are opportunities
in Europe and America for those who are not connected to the ruling government to also progress in life. And if the person is determined enough, he or she can get what they want. An education, a great job, a decent apartment, etc, is available to anybody who is determined to go that route. Back to Africa. After independence, the leaders who could
actually make a difference were cruelly killed with the aid of the local people they trusted, in foreign-backed military coups. These coups gave Africa a new breed of leaders who held on to power with the use of fear and force. Whilst holding on to this newly acquired power, these leaders began to amass wealth. Of course, this kind of leader was perfect for Africa’s former
colonial masters, because now they had to deal with a breed of presidents who, although in power, actually had no clue how to use that power to the benefit of their people. A new breed of leaders who continued the system of raping their respective countries by enriching their immediate family, friends and hangers-on. A new breed of leaders who realised that they could do as they pleased, and though people might moan, they were too fearful to take any serious action against them.
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