Okyeame

Blues from the Horn: Famine in Somalia and Kenya

2011-09-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

In the past decade the countries on the African continent have made tremendous progress in a variety of developmental areas, leaping from hopelessness and bounding among the nations with the fastest growing economies. It is quite shameful then, to witness a famine in the eastern horn on the continent in this age of abundance, and with the ability to predict famines and consequently prevent unnecessary deaths.
In the climate of African history, my generation has been very lucky to witness the resurgence of vitality in our countries and daily livelihood. Statistics show that the individual countries have some of the highest growth rates in the world, and will do so for many years to come. There has been a rise of a new middle class, bridging the vast gap between the rich elites, and rural poor. On the ground, there has been an increase in the amount and access to basic infrastructure, healthcare and education in areas where these amenities could only be dreamt of previously. Local initiatives tackling issues of education, sustainable agriculture and encouraging light manufacturing are slowly raising the social capital present on the continent.
My generation has also witnessed functioning political institutions and the accompanying informal institutions of democratic transitions, free and fair elections, freedom of expression and association; all occurrences the generation before cannot honestly claim to have ever experienced. Indeed certain leaders and administrations that seemed untouchable after years of domination have been replaced, and there is the hope that this is only the beginning of real change afocus on domestic needs and on aligning the demands of the people with the policy making process of the political institutions.
But as we celebrate the arrival of luxuries such the internet and widespread cell-phone use, we are reminded how much longer we have to go. It is so sad there are people starving and losing lives because of a famine. I say this because although droughts cannot be prevented famines can, especially with predictions of the impending famine due to drought and weather predictions months ahead by numerous international agencies including the UN. But it took an announcement of full-blown famine in July of this year before the world responded. Many lives that could have been saved have been lost and many more will die. 750,000 Somalis are predicted to lose their lives throughout this famine and yet areas such as Puntland, Somaliland and the Ethiopian Highlands were able to avoid this devastation, and in the case of the Somaliland, have moved on to supply Somalia with aid for the famine.
The terrible local food distribution networks and local politics are also to be blamed for allowing this famine to occur in Kenya as well. Never would one assume that in a country with an agricultural economy, there could be abundance of food in certain areas, and complete famine in another within the same boundaries. The Dabaab refugee camp in Kenya, originally built to support 90,000 was as of July this year filled with over 465,000 refugees. But this is testimony to the how bad the food networks are. In Somalia proper, the international politics, and the ongoing war is to be blamed for the current state of the situation. The last time there was a famine this bad in the area was in 1984, when 1 million in Ethiopia died.
After the implosion of the Somali government in 1991, there have been no legitimate institutions to foster the distribution of goods in the area, and this specifically made the situation as bad as it is, as Al-Shabab controls whatever semblance of food distribution networks remain in the area. The adamancy of the United States not to “fund terrorist activity” has been a huge obstacle as well in the provision of international aid to areas where they are most needed but controlled by Al-Shabab forces. Fortunately, help has poured in from all over with Turkish Prime Minister giving the most aid after visiting the area. The aid has been immense and helpful, and continued flow of aid is necessary as a famine is not a onetime event and this one is predicted to persist until January of next year.
The truth of the matter is that there is an urgent need to tackle the root of this problem and this can be done by recognizing the failure of current US foreign policy in the region. Al-Shabab came about as a reaction to US and foreign intervention in Somali politics, and exists to fight against the presence of the US imposed Transitional Federal Government. It is time, the US, AU, UN and other actors moved beyond the politics of the issue and give up on the nominal government of the TFG, and deal directly with the Somali people. The main concerned should be addressing the people how they see themselves be it on the based on the clans organizations or on the basis of regions that see themselves as one. If anything, the Somaliland region that seceded years ago has proven that there is a chance for success if the regions are engaged individually.
In the meantime I invite you, as a fellow citizen of the world, to join the African Society of Georgetown and UNICEF of Georgetown tonight (30th) to a fundraiser the ICC Galleria. In addition to the provision of Somali food, all proceeds from the $10 entry ticket will go to UNICEF to join other programs such as the World Food Programme, Doctors without Borders and Action Aid as they partake in this humanitarian effort to save some human lives.

2009-10-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

A Replay Of History Averted?

The story that currently headlines news on the African continent is that of civil unrest in Guinea. It’s the same old story on the African continent. A military leader seizes power through a Coup d’état, and promises the populace genuine transition and a safe transition period to ensure free and fair elections.

Like many dictators in the history of the world, most notably Idi Amin of Uganda, Moussa Dadis Camara, coincidentally realized after the Coup that he is in fact a citizen and is thus eligible for the very office he promised not to occupy. What is new this time around is that the Dictator is insinuating that he will run in the election that his corrupt junta is organizing in a perverted form of democracy.

Idi Amin, aka His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea, and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular attained power in a way very similar to Camara.

Idi Amin seized power after storming the royal palace and expelling the then executive president Milton Obote. Camara also took over after the death of the old dictator having a bloodless oup as well. Eventually, Idi Amin began suppressing free press, killing religious leaders, journalists, senior bureaucrats, judges, lawyers, students and intellectuals, criminal suspects, and foreign nationals. In all Idi Amin is estimated to have killed between 100,000 and 500,000 people.

National Council for Democracy and Development, under the guidance of Moussa Dadis Camara, led a bloodless coup on December 23rd bloodless coup after death of longtime dictator Lansana Conte. Both Idi Amin and Camara, men of distinguished military backgrounds, assumed a leadership after a bloodless Coup d’état. First they exonerated political prisoners and take action to attempt fixing the injustice done by the previous government. Like Idi Amin, Camara has begun suppressing the freedom of speech by banning call in TV and radio shows where people protest his government. Even worse than that was a massacre of opposition and protesters at the Stade du 28 October. In reaction to the protests, Camara’s soldiers shot, stabbed and raped [women]. Human rights watch report that at least 157 died.

Moussa Camara refuses to take blame this, attributing the killings to the “uncontrollable elements of army”. It is my sincere hope that the killings, and abuse stops here, unlike with Idi Amin. The international community has responded to this by imposing sanction on Guinea. The United Nations has launched an inquiry to investigate the massacre. The European and African Unions have launched arms embargoes on Guinea, and the Economic Community of West African States has revoked Guinea’s membership. Burkinabe president Blaise Campoare serves as a mediator between Camara and the African Union, yet Senegalese president quite rightly suggest that the only solution is through “intervention force [which] would forestall the situation from generating into chaos”.

Just like Libya and the Soviet Union’s support for Idi Amin in the 1970’s, China is undermining the actions of the international community after striking a 7 million mining deal for bauxite and thus attempting to negate the economic sanctions and provide the corrupt government with a means of attaining more arms.

One can only hope that there is more effort from the African continent and the International community to support religious leaders, citizens of Guinea as they fight to bring true justice and democracy. After all, it is the poor who will suffer the most from these sanctions.

Sundiata, African Society of Georgetown.

Guinea

2009-10-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a month and a day since the brutal stadium attacks in Conakry claimed the lives of a reported 157 people and injured 1,253 more. Only 3,000 of a 97,000 labor force reported to work yesterday with thousands staying at home to memorialize the violence experienced and to make a stand for stability in the nation. A Human Rights Watch report published recently claimed that the violence perpetrated by the “Red Beret” elite Presidential Guard of current President Captain Moussa Dadis Camara was premeditated, rather than spontaneous.

The extent of the violence that occurred on the 28th and continues to occur daily today in Guinea is still unknown, though the effects of these gross human rights infractions will be felt by the country in the years to come. A Human Rights Watch report has claimed that the stadium attacks were premeditated. They might also have possibly been fueled by ethnic tensions against the Peuhl people according to firsthand accounts. Soldiers were reported to have shouted, “You say you don’t want us, that you prefer Cellou [the leading Peuhl opposition candidate, Cellou Dalein Diallo]… we’re going to kill all of you. We will stay in power.”

The composition of the army and its link to Captain Camara remains unclear. It has been speculated that some soldiers were speaking English during the attacks, indicating that the Red Beret force might not solely be composed of Guineans, but have been gradually joined by soldiers from the surrounding nations of Liberia and Sierra Leone. In the weeks following the stadium attacks, probes into Captain Camara’s involvement orchestrating the terror at the stadium has brought the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Haile Menkerios, to Conakry. Though Captain Camara was not physically present at the protest, the head of his personal bodyguard, Lieutenant Abubakar “Toumba” Diakité, was. Mr. Menkerios and Mr. Ban Ki-Moon will be setting up trials to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice, supporting efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The assembled crowd at the stadium attempted to use nonviolent means to pressure Captain Camara to announce that he would not be running in scheduled fair and free elections next year. The violence experienced, particularly by the women, in response to nonviolence was shocking to survivors of the attacks. Rapes have started to be reported by victims and witnesses and their stories indicate a despicable level of brutality seen in the light of day. A report by NPR on October 20th cited Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher with Human Rights Watch, saying, "What was new about the sexual violence on Sept. 28 and in the days after has been the public nature of it — the stripping of women, raping them, putting the barrels of guns inside their vaginas. This type of thing has been extremely shocking to Guineans — a very, very conservative society that have simply never seen this type of thing before." Many women were captured by the Red Beret and gang raped over a period of several days before being released. With peace and stability still not restored in the country, there is no way of telling the extent to which HIV/AIDS has spread as a result of the rapes

This savage brutality came two days before Secretary Clinton’s signing of a UN resolution protecting women against sexual violence in conflict. The timing of the legislation seemed fortunate in focusing the world’s attention on the situation in Guinea. However, the call for humanitarian action was largely ignored by the international community and continues to be a second priority to securing political stability and launching judicial hearings to find those responsible. Though those imperatives are important for the healing of Guinean society, the immediate health of the population cannot be overlooked. More must be done for the victims of the massacre and for the victims of ongoing crime still perpetrated by the Red Berets daily in frequent car jacking and theft.

Martine Randolph, Africa Action

Vital Voices: Civil Society in Guinea

2009-10-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

In the mid 1950s, Martin Luther King, Jr. pushed for a substitution of “tired feet for tired souls” to spur the Montgomery boycotts. With the brutality of the September 28th attacks in Guinea already behind us, it is difficult to take the focus off of the exhaustion of our souls in the fight for peace and fair governance.

Though the public health facilities reported the death toll at 56, official reports cite that 151 people were killed and at least another 1,200 were injured in stadium protests in Conakry led by the opposition. Brewing ethnic tensions may be keeping many away from hospitals, leaving additional wounded still uncounted. Women who have been victims of rape are in most need of counseling, which is currently underprovided. The renewed global commitment to protecting these women was made tangible by a unanimous vote on a UN resolution on sexual violence in conflict zones that occurred two days after the stadium attacks. The urgency for the implementation of this resolution is clear.

International schools in Conakry closed their doors on the 27th of September and most non-essential personnel of the diplomatic corps and international organizations have left Conakry. Guinean schools were re-scheduled to begin their academic year on October 15th, though it is not likely that they will open their doors in such a political climate

Politically, the situation continues to be difficult to navigate. Celou Dalein Diallo is the leader of the main opposition party and is currently in France recovering from injuries sustained at the stadium protests. Sidya Toure, a former prime minister, is the head of another opposition party, the Union of Republic Forces. The URF rejected Camara’s call for unity at the beginning of the month. Camara continues to express that though he is uncertain of whether he will stand for re-election, that his natural rights as a Guinean citizen should not obstruct such a decision. Given the outbreak of violence on the 28th, Toure and Guinean civil society find this to be an unacceptable possibility.

Pressure from the international community, though slightly late on the uptake, needs to grow from here with only four days left before the opposition’s deadline for Camara to announce his commitment to not be involved in the upcoming election cycle in January 2010. The EU’s development commissioner, Karel de Gucht has already begun calls for Camara to be held accountable for crimes against humanity.

My soul’s exhaustion is mostly caused by the anxiety of what may happen if actions taken to secure Guineans’ right to freely choose their own representation do not begin to gain more decisive momentum before Saturday. With my mother poised behind blue helmets but with little concern for self when faced with others’ suffering, the anxiety is heightened. With the prospect of the breakout of ethnic tensions—though quite unlikely—given how her Tutsi features translate in an environment hostile to the Fulani, my mind is all the more occupied. But the call for stable governance precedes this. The argument for civil society’s right to hold leaders accountable to promises made as they ascended to power is worth fighting for. After his successful coup in December, Camara promised to not stand for re-election stating, "We are patriots, not hungry for power. We don't intend to stay in power forever." The international community must show its respect for Guinean civil society through “tired feet” supporting humanitarian efforts in the country and by looking towards Saturday as a strict deadline.

By Martine Randolph, Africa Action

Akwaaba

2009-10-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

Akwaaba, and Welcome to the blog of the African Society of Georgetown.

The African Society of Georgetown is established for the purpose of highlighting the continent of Africa, its people, its culture, and its way of life. The society serves as a community of all Africa enthusiasts, and as a platform for members to make contributions to their communities. Our members dedicate themselves to diversifying thought on campus and heightening cultural sensitivity.

The level of enthusiasm and energy this year is inspiring. Especially because the members of the club and the general atmosphere of the student populace is one that is geared towards political action, community involvement.

On this blog, we will address the history behind specific currents events, attempt to analyze the causes and effect, and propose ways in which the underlying problems could be solved, if possible. We hope to have receive a large input of quality of dialogue and debate from people of all cultures, nations, stature and corners of the world, in order to understand the complexities of the problems on the African continent, and attain a variety of perspectives regarding the events.

Last but not the least, we will post information about activities and events on the Georgetown campus, the Washington DC area and in the World in General so that anyone interested may be informed.

Yours Sincerely,

Michael Appau
Freshman Representative, African Society of Georgetown
http://studentorgs.georgetown.edu/africansociety/