THEY CAME: The North African Uprising and Foreign Interference, A Lesson for African Leaders and Citizens

RAZIAH MWAWANGA

There has been a lot of drama and turmoil in the recent days as the African continent, especially the northern part, is torn into pieces as people cry out for blood and change. What initially started as one man’s protest against unjust treatment by law enforcement officers has thrown North Africa into full-blown chaos. The fire has moved from Tunisia to Egypt, Jordon, Bahrain, Yemen and the dust seemed to have settled in Libya.

Everybody wants to see old leaders and governments step out of office, give them democracy, more jobs and better lifestyles, but,  as one wise man said, whether this is good or bad, no one knows.

What puzzles me and I find most interesting is the countries in which the trend has taken momentum. All the affected countries seem to have one thing in common; either they have been ruled by the monarchy or self-proclaimed life leadership.

Another fascinating thing is that some of these countries have strategic economies, are powers to reckon with and are superpowers in their own rights. They command respect, fear and envy among their neighbours and the world in general because of their strategic positions, economies and principles.

Take Egypt for example: it is the home of the ancient civilization, excellent tourist attraction, vibrant economy and a leader in the Arab states politics. It stands out between the old and new civilization in North Africa and has commanded international respect and authority as a link between the Arab states and the West. It is also the only Arab state that can see eye to eye with Israel and used to mediate and bumper in Israeli Arab politics.

Apart from the social, economic, and strategic position of Egypt, it has a beauty that cannot be compared with, commonly known as the ancient civilization, land of the Nile and home of Pharaohs. Its civilization surpasses human knowledge through ancient ruins in Alexandria and the Pyramids the world is yet to find a way to construct. Egypt has  world-class Engineers demonstrated by its majestic architecture and magnificent bridges.

Libya is also a great country in its own rights. I have not had the privilege to visit but from what I have seen on television from journalists who have visited its well planned and organised, great infrastructure and roads through the desert and a great economy. Unlike Egypt, Libya is known for its no-nonsense principles and Mohamed Gaddafi’s fearlessness and outspokenness. He is a man of his own principles; does not run in packs like other African leaders; speaks out his mind and does not fear anyone.

He is accredited to be the first African leader to distort United Nations protocol through his long speech when he was the President of the African Union. He is credible despite what people might think of him. He is one of those leaders who has always advocated for a united Africa, through creating a strong African Union which could command respect in the world and a voice to reckon with. Apart from being a world leader, he has tried to create a better life for his citizens unlike other leaders who just horde wealth and save it in Swiss banks and embark in selfish unrealistic ventures and investments that create misery and misfortune for their citizens.

Gaddafi has guts other leaders do not have, like his refusal to the surrender the Locabie bombing suspects to be prosecuted; he eventually gave them up and paid compensation with Libyan money to victims and even negotiated the release of the sick jailed perpetrator and gave him a hero’s welcome when he was released. Proving his love and dedication to protect his citizens despite all odds, a trait other African leaders’ lack, our brothers and sisters are languishing in foreign prisons for crimes they have committed and not committed without representation because our foreign embassies are white elephants and toothless dogs, only there to protect our government interests and not citizens’ interests and wellbeing. Why is Gadaffi killing the same people he had the passion to protect before? What has changed? Are  they not the same Libyans he would move heaven and earth to save and protect?

What I see in all this chaos is the destabilization of strong African economies, silencing the mouth pieces that speak out against foreign aggression by attacking Egypt and Libya, because weakening these countries will destabilise and diminish not only North African power but the whole region.  You start with the strongest because the weak can do nothing.

Why can’t the Egyptians and Libyans see this outside interference? Is burning infrastructure and destroying economies our ancestors took centuries to build and our taxpayers’ money going to solve the problem. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know, if they don’t believe me they should look at, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. In Iraq the Americans went to find weapons of mass destruction, in Afghanistan Osama Bin Laden, to date none has been found and these countries have become a nightmare. Is this the democracy they want; where homes are no longer safe to bring up children and people become prisoners in their own homes and decisions?

I urge my brothers and sisters to be careful of what they wish for and the hidden danger they cannot see  as a watchman as Prophet Isaiahs’ said and echoed in Martin Niemöller  (14 January 1892 – 6 March 1984) words;

THEY CAME….

First the Nazis came…
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out —
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out —
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out —
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me —
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Why can’t the Egyptians, Libyans and other people of Africans nations perceive this outside interference? People should vent their anger at the injustice, dictatorship and greed of our self-elected leaders who always rig their way to power and abrogate term of office.

Let’s not burn and destroy the infrastructure and economies our ancestors and our taxes have build for centuries just to quench our anger and frustrations. Presidents come and go but what is destroyed may never be rebuilt.

What Gadaffi and Mubarak and other African leaders should read are the signs of  time and know when to leave, as former British Prime Minister, John Major stated in his farewell speech ‘’When the curtain falls it’s time to leave the stage’’. Why is it so hard for African leaders to understand that absolute power corrupts? Despite the good things some of these great African leaders have done, it is good leave and be remembered for the good things they did and not the bad they are doing now, killing their own people who elected them and believed in them and whom they swore to protect.