This blog post isn’t intended to rile anyone I promise; rather it is to force ourselves to ask some uncomfortable questions of the region and recurring issues of governance that refuse to go away.
The death of Meles Zenawi erstwhile President of Ethiopia on 20th August 2012 compels me to ask the above question. To wonder whether the Western definition of democracy can be strictly applied to SSA isn’t meant to belittle the African people after all concepts of liberty and human rights are applicable to all human beings regardless of their race, creed, geographical location or any other qualifier.
Zenawi will go down in history as a leader who whilst able to attract foreign investment and turn around his country’s fortunes also did everything to crush dissent in flagrant disregard for the human rights of his people. When he assumed power, he was seen as a beacon of hope for a nation that had hitherto been dogged by famine and unrest. So how did this man perceived as “an example of African renaissance – part of a new generation of African leaders” end up becoming one who condoned the killing of civilians and multiple arrests during the 2005 elections in a bid to suppress protests about vote-rigging allegations. He squashed any form of dissent as a threat to his authoritarian system of government by any means necessary from arbitrary legislation (under the guise of protecting national security) to multiple arrests. However, because he delivered some positive results that the West felt they could work with – at the forefront of the battle against regional terrorism; they could turn a blind eye to the cruel and brutal side of a dictator who wanted to keep his “system” intact at all costs.
As we see this pattern repeated across the continent over and over again – Rwanda’s Kigame another prime example; one cannot but ask the question: is the Western definition of democracy – free and fair elections, transfer of power at appropriate intervals, transparency and accountability – truly applicable in Africa? It is truly difficult to tell. Just because something isn’t working doesn’t necessarily mean one has to ditch the quest for the ideal and its undergirding principles. However, this should also force a re-think of governance orthodoxy in the continent.
What a lot of people fail to factor into the equation is this: with its diverse ethnic and tribal factions within each country – these often fraught with simmering tensions and hostilities - some of which go back decades if not centuries – it is often difficult to find credible means of unification that doesn’t involve iron-fists. But the issue then is this: where does the government draw the line between restoring stability and flagrant abuse of human rights? Needs must; respect for human rights and dignity of ordinary people as well as upholding the rule of law is a necessity for every human being. In the African context though, I’m not totally convinced that democracy as we define it has all the answers. Something isn’t working as it should, a re-think is necessary. I for one will never advocate dictatorship, repression or violence – they are counter-productive; in fact these often end up fuelling resentments that lead to the conflict that keeps dogging pockets of the region.
In order to move forward, sometimes it can be useful to trace the path that led to a particular point.
Whilst the customary law and traditional ways in African communities have a lot that is discriminatory or abusive, maybe the hierarchy or model represented can be applied in a way that protects the rights of citizens. There might also be a need to re-assess the impact of reconfigured geographical boundaries imposed during colonisation. No-one is asking for the maps of countries to be re-drawn yet again. However, a better understanding for example of why certain tribes or ethnic groups have been or were embroiled in conflict and what the true cost has been might be step towards working towards reconciliation within communities. One thing is clear, for as long as the ethnic tensions remain, SSA will be dogged by the curse of conflict and the band-aid of “democracy” won’t make that much of a difference. I’ve got to admit that it is a conundrum but the search for better alternatives can’t stop. African children deserve to be left a better legacy than the one they have right now – no-one can dispute that.
Until the next time…………….
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