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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Nov 2009 : 13:16:42
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Africa Still in Dictatorship and Dark Ages
By Modou S. Joof
The Acting Chairperson African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACPHR), Commissioner Bahame Tom Nyanduga has said that it is a shame that after a decade in the 21st Century when the rest of the world is exploring the outer horizons of the cosmos, we in Africa are right in the midst of dictatorship and dark ages of conflict.
He was speaking at the opening of the Forum on the participation of NGOs in the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 20th African Human Rights Book Fair recently at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
Commissioner Nyanduga, who earlier-on narrated at length his personal ordeals and activities that seemed less crucial to the audience, added that the democratic order that was ushered in during the last decade of the 20th century is receding before our own eyes.
“We are witnessing a redefinition of the electoral processes and democracy on the continent, whereby the will of the first families is becoming the determinant of governance on the continent rather than the will of the people,” he said.
He argued that if the above is not the case in every country in the continent, how we are experiencing the re-emergence of barnished menace of military coups, as the junta is wrecking havoc on the people of Guinea and the constitutional reversal in Niger which defies comprehension? The promise of an era of good governance, rule of law and respect for human and peoples’ rights in Africa ushered in the 90s appeared to be shaky in various countries, he argued.
He explained that the fundamental individual liberties and freedoms, the economic, social and cultural rights of our people continue to be elusive. He stressed that poverty, hunger, malnutrition; diseases and illiteracy are the order of the day, while the continent’s resources are misapplied to conflicts. According to him, Africa’s myriad of challenges can only be resolved if Africa is at peace with itself and its people, driving the point home that the peace dividend is evident in those countries that have embraced democratic reforms.
He also said that the forum, as the biggest convener of human rights defenders on the continent, must re-dedicate itself to the fight against dictatorship and bad governance in Africa, citing that one of the topics to be considered is a “Comprehensive Human Rights Strategy for Africa”.
For her part, the representative of the Ministry of Justice, Senior State Counsel Mrs. Isatou Alwar Graham said that her government recognises the efforts of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, in facilitating the forum to enable NGOs to fully participate on the work of the African Commission.
The Commission is mandated to oversee the implementation and interpretation of the rights and duties set up in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. She admitted that NGOs have played crucial roles in our societies in setting international human rights standards, documenting human rights violations and lobbying for effective enforcement of the provisions enshrined in human rights instruments.
“While there has been marked progress interms of improving democracy and human rights situation in some areas in the continent, a lot more remains to be done in other parts. Human rights violation continued on a day to day basis,” she stressed.
She noted that Africa has a long way to go in relation to its development and human rights record. However, she expressed optimism that they shall overcome the hurdles provided that they inject more spirit and commitment, as well as belief, in their dreams. She also said that the forum is an advocacy tool adopted by the African Centre to promote networking among human rights NGOs in Africa.
“The African community expects you to work together strategically and responsibly in meeting your set objectives. This can be achieved by making good use of the opportunity provided by such august gathering,” she stated.
Source: Daily News
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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tamsier
United Kingdom
558 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2009 : 00:03:25
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‘According to him, Africa’s myriad of challenges can only be resolved if Africa is at peace with itself and its people’
I couldn’t agree more. Before Africans can develop, they must first have pride in themselves and in their respective countries and willing to die to defend it [not just talk and complain, but turn them into actions]. Once they have achieved this, moving towards democracy would be less difficult. This is the root of all the continent’s problems. African leaders’ thievery and greed, people’s unwillingness to take actions rather than complain in private, undemocratic, mass poverty, human right abuses, etc all trace their roots to a greater extend, to this problem. Africans should not be dying of poverty, we are among the most blessed [if not the most blessed] in terms of natural resources. If India [a single country] can do it why not Africa [a continent]? Considering the fact that we gained independence within few years of each other. Africa has no excuse and Africa needs to solve its own problems rather than waiting for handouts or others to guide it like a child. I am among those Africans who are not in favour of selling our continent to China. China’s economic hold on the African continent is dangerously frightening and this is no exaggeration.
First, the Chinese are there for their sole benefit and not for mutual partnership. Virtually in all the African countries they occupy, not only do they send in their own people for skilled work, but large numbers for unskilled labour as well. I can perhaps understand sending in skilled Chinese engineers etc, but certainly not for unskilled work when the host country have people willing to do the unskilled work, whose families are dying because of lack of jobs and income. Even the native entrepreneurs are being priced out within their own country [source: USA Today]. As any economist know, small and medium sized businesses are crucial in a country’s economic development. In the Congo basin [the second largest tropical forest in the world], six out of ten trees cut down belong to China and it is estimated that within 50 years, 2/3 of the forest will disappear if the Chinese keeps exploiting it at this rate [source: World Wildlife Fund]. Where these Chinese employ the natives, they are poorly paid [less than the other unskilled Chinese doing the same work] and the working conditions are terrible without any safety plans in place [even the other unskilled Chinese don’t do these jobs]. As we all have witnessed recently in Zambia, some native workers in a Chinese owned mine were seriously wounded by the stupid police whose crime was only complaining and demonstrating about working conditions.
Secondly, the Chinese do not give a toss about the Africans [their host or so called partner]. Why should they when we don’t give a toss about ourselves? In fact, they hate us and are only in Africa to improve the lives of their own people and if Africans die in the process, big deal. If you do not believe me, have a look at the Chinese website below [follow the link] –; a website I came across last week totally by accident from my local radio station website’s news bulletin. Its about a silly issue which turned into something greater. I warn you, some of the language may be too shocking for some. As most of us have seen on the news recently, tons of radioactive components were dumped in the Congo river by Chinese acquired mines in the country – poisoning the water supply of local villagers. Lest not forget the Chinese have poisoned their own coastal territories before and it would be foolish of Africans to think that they won’t do it to them. This so called Chinese-African partnership is a one sided partnership. The only benefactor is China and Africa will pay for the consequences in years to come. If we think we had had it worst from the Europeans during the colonial periods, we haven’t seen nothing yet. This is in no way trying to trivialise the devastating effects of colonialism, but at least in the latter stages of colonialism nuclear wastes etc, was in its infancy, but most importantly, we survived colonialism. The bigger threat from China is yet to come. As powerful nations struggle for world scarce resources, China who have virtually economically conquered every corner of the African continent, would have no hesitation in bleeding dry the continent’s resources even if it means destroying the African race. If it can do it to its own people albeit to a lesser extent, how can we be so naïve to even think that they have respect for Africans and wouldn’t do it to us with all its economic and nuclear power, especially when you consider the fact that, these people have no respect for the African race. The Europeans have come and gone, yet the Africans have not learned nothing in spite of centuries of colonisation. I cannot emphasise that old maxim enough: ‘Africa needs to solve its own problems rather than waiting for handouts of for others to guide it’. I quote Mam Kotcha Barma Faal [C1584 - 1654] in the Wolof tongue:
Su-ngue Mam Kotcha Barma neh na, su fekeh ne ndanga buga rei ak ngor, de koh joh suba gou jot lumoi dundeh, bu yaageh, nga soppa koh malaah.
http://www.chinasmack.com/stories/shanghai-black-girl-lou-jing-racist-chinese-netizens/#comment-42149
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Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
Edited by - tamsier on 14 Nov 2009 00:47:51 |
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