tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17075169937986014812024-02-19T07:18:59.571+01:00Liberian PerspectivesComments on Events in Liberia and Liberia Related EventsDr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-91338220851413290512011-06-05T23:17:00.002+02:002011-06-05T23:40:43.458+02:00<em>Sunday, June 5<br /></em><strong>Important message to all readers</strong><br />My blog <em>'Liberian Perspectives'</em> has been moved to: <a href="http://blog.liberiapastandpresent.org/">http://blog.liberiapastandpresent.org</a> and the present link will cease to function as from July 26, 2011... Liberia's Independence Day!<br /><br />Many thanks for following my posts in the past and I invite you to continue to visit <em>'Liberian Perspectives'</em> in its renewed and even more attractive form! And - of course - comments are always most welcome!<br /><br />Dr Fred Van Der Kraaij ('VDK')Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-49762252900763200312011-05-21T11:02:00.011+02:002011-05-22T10:39:22.269+02:00<div><br /><div><br /><p><em>Sunday May 22<br /></em><strong>More investors coming to Liberia</strong></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.qwiki.com/q/#!/Liberia">Liberia</a> is not a poor country. It has abundant natural resources: gold, diamonds, iron ore, oil and timber. Its agricultural potential notably includes rubber and palm oil. In the 20th century this small West African country, the size of Ohio, had the world's largest rubber plantation, was Africa's largest producer of iron ore, and had the world's largest mercantile fleet. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609446871128601218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XvwKqpp6UHy-JST61OBHKf87baqv2cETC08oo8t_tmZ-zb3JdUKGhlb2qg4ju9-ckCxLL7BiKkCBFRbP234bMJU8zqnGMgSFwQmpLY7qx-T8lt2pen0e9Ed6Om7qg_wuFk5Nqa6sumr_/s200/TolbertSmall.jpg" />A bloody <em>coup d'état</em> in 1980 changed this situation. <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm"></a>Master-Sergeant Doe assassinated the Americo-Liberian president <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/WilliamTolbert.htm">William R. Tolbert Jr</a>., a Baptist pastor, and became the first indigenous president of Africa's first and oldest republic. However, from <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm">a thin, soft-spoken 'liberator', Samuel Doe</a><a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm"> turne</a><a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm">d into a greedy, corpulent dictator, who rigged elections, violated human rights and imprisoned political opponents </a>- among them, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 127px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609447215108352850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk5X6TVRdmZsOYFtNktPDWecg0NLZ2tx9PbieL-pbgCQNuHMjlHxRcMHCnXr2SHcCBog930gJRIRPEz7U6FagZm4RkX7A-h3mAnsgndIT70cw4s3t64yDfD72rJIcZCqKEc9VqZxf1FQ_/s200/SamuelDoeYoung.jpg" />Prince Johnson, one of the warlords in Liberia's civil war, brutally tortured Doe to death in 1990. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZzxSG6yU7uGpUrJqWJoQ3voVzNA_RKLWAekTEOANsxjyQkch6L03ef0m_JqLcQ5T6TRY_ytddwV9cPLnUiuzdq9uyd9o52QZB7vxzx1ATUDoRhZRZXZSxQwPRlZR6y9h9HvEIbvpdomt/s1600/SamuelDoeYoung.jpg"></a>Another warlord, <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/charles_taylor.htm">Charles Taylor</a>, was elected in 1997, after the first civil war (1989-1996). Soon followed the second war (1997-2003). The 14 years of civil conflict killed an estimated 250,000 people, mutilated many more, and traumatized even more. When the civil war was over, the country had to start from scratch, foreign investors had left, the modern economy was ruined. Liberia was back to the situation in <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/ColonizationSociety.htm">1822</a>, the year the first black colonists and people of mixed race arrived from overseas, the U.S.A., and imposed their rule on the indigenous population. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 178px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609450540375609026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EcM2thaeTvRFHQFOMFtgJUlYNU2EF72ePP0FuUyFFNQ65GTJ7uoGWS5JJKFtIDHtuEwu7QDyXNwiqs5G34L1lfUGsKkZt9u2tFfDFO3BV_oSC-iP5CrQ4uWt7x_6BufO627lZ4DUOn0B/s200/tayloratcourt.jpg" />Liberia started the 21st century with an elected president, former warlord Charles Taylor, who was forced to resign in 2003, subsequently went into exile, but was later handed over to the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/TaylorCharles/SpecialCourtSierraLeone/index.htm">Sierra Leone War Crimes Tribunal </a>in The Hague, in the Netherlands, where he was charged with <a href="http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/trial-background/">eleven criminal charges </a>related to his alleged involvement in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_Civil_War">Sierra Leone's civil war </a>(1991-2002). The verdict is due this year.<br /><br />Liberia's hope now is <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/JohnsonSirleaf/index.htm">Ellen Johnson Sirleaf</a>, a former international banker and international civil servant, and already for decades one of Liberia's most prominent citizens. She performed important functions in Liberia: in the late 1970s she was Minister of Finance serving in the Tolbert Administration. She became president of Liberia in 2006 following multi-party elections, defeating internationally acclaimed football star <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Weah">George Weah</a>, and thus became Africa's first democratically elected female president.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 171px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609444268882755026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyEOsVLBg0n405b5Q1Rr5TNWpZPKMidGWfECCbXT-5vVxBdtoawj9L2QlN_fkLzOYsz3IPcGOpNzFLzZZdhNR4g0iDbN0PV13Ji04DrrB10PISS0ZyrO49t09W6FnlhCCR-eIgwnrswnC/s200/EJSsmall.jpg" />Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's skills, experience and international connections have resulted in an impressive number of important achievements, in particular <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/DebtRelief.htm">the cancellation of the country's staggering US$ 4 billion dollar debt </a>and the signing of concession agreements with foreign investors. Liberians themselves do not have the capital needed to invest in major, large-scale productive activities in the country, exploiting the country's economic potential. This is an old story that has haunted the country's past and played an important role in its internal politics. It even was a major cause of <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/EJRoye.htm">the country's first <em>coup d'état</em>, in 1871</a>. But let's return to 2011.<br /><br />Liberia's three million people are among the poorest of the planet. 85% of the people live on less than US$ 1 a day. I will not quote more statistics - most statistics are 'guesstimates'. However, unemployment in the modern economy is sky-high, salaries for paid jobs extremely low, and people in the subsistence economy survive at an extremely low level. Hence, any investor - foreign or domestic - is expected to provide relief, opportunities and hope.<br /><br />Since the start of her Administration, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has managed to convince a growing number of foreign investors to come and invest in Liberia. Like in the 'good old days', the late 1950s end early 1960s, when Liberia had double digit growth figures and ranked among the fastest growing economies of the world.<br /><br /><strong>President Sirleaf achievements<br /></strong>Among the foreign investors in the country's rubber sector are the nowadays Japanese owners of the former US rubber giant Firestone. She has atracted important foreign investors in the gold and mining sector too, but may be her biggest success was the multi-billion dollar deal with steel giant <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/ArchiveNewspapers/0704SenateApproves$1bnIronOreDeal.htm">Mittal </a>to exploit the rich Yekepa iron ore deposits and rehabilitate the former LAMCO mine, in the north of the country, bordering Guinea. <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/19/liberia-simedarby-idUSLDE74I23E20110519">This week it was announced that a US$ 3.1 billion investment in the palm oil sector was agreed, with a Malaysian investor</a>. This raises total foreign investments in the palm oil sector to over US$ 5 billion! <a href="http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/5/21/business/8724889&sec=business">The investments will be spread over the coming years </a>and Liberia may thus become one of the world's major producer of palm oil and related products.<br /><br />Foreign investors need political and macroeconomic stability and sound macroeconomic policies that are conducive to economic growth, and they do not want to deal with predatory, corrupt politicians, civil servants or other people. However, <a href="http://thenewdispensation.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/liberia-is-worlds-most-corrupt-country-2010-ti-report-grades-liberia/">Liberia was declared the world's most corrupt country in 201o </a>by <a href="http://www.transparency.org/">Transparency International </a>and the <a href="http://liberianobserver.com/content/us-state-department-2010-country-report-accuses-liberian-judicial-system-corruption">2010 Human Rights report of the U.S. State Department </a>also was not very flattering for the country, accusing the Liberian judicial system of corruption.<br /><br />President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had proven her important stabilizing role in the present political and economic environment. Her engagement in fighting corruption is equally important. She is convinced that Liberia has to recover, the country has to be reconstructed after the devastating years of the recent past.<br /><br />In October of this year presidential elecions will be held. Among the main candidates are the imcumbent president, the <a href="http://www.emansion.gov.lr/content.php?sub=President" related="The">72-year old Ellen Johnson Sirleaf</a>; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Tubman">Winston Tubman</a>, nephew of Liberia's longest serving <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/William%20Tubman.htm">President William Tubman </a>of Americo-Liberian descent - who ruled the country for 27 years; <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11403964">Prince Johnson</a>, nowadays Senator in the Liberian Legislature, and who tortured President Doe to death; and <a href="http://www.theperspective.org/whoisbrumskine.html">Charles Brumskine</a>, once a Taylor ally, now an independent candidate.<br /><br /><em>To be continued<br /></em></p></div></div>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-80170115136207114082011-04-12T21:42:00.020+02:002011-04-15T07:20:31.623+02:00<em>Tuesday April 12</em> <br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><strong>Which way, Ivory Coast? </strong></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595548953390721922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eNGCyrcUy8qACsnHOFVh00rgT9vIPQM3pws1ljBuG2CodOPUT9q-KIewegi9So31Jna2piFx7O7dbnZQ7HhC_aDbqDYOu_jErAv-DGp6P5BFFuC1rs-5Zs6KC-zi1p6SzEEMrc5Yamg2/s200/IvoryCoast1.gif" /> April 12 is a date to remember. Liberians immediately think of April 12 1980: the day <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/liberia-1980.htm">Master Sergeant Samuel Doe seized power </a>and the country made a U-turn from which it still has to recover. Ivorians now have their own <a href="http://mg.co.za/article/2011-04-12-chaos-reigns-on-ouattaras-first-day">'April 12'</a>: the day Alassane Ouattara finally got hold of the presidency, after <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/world/africa/12ivory.html?_r=1">the arrest of his opponent</a>, the incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo who refused to give up power peacefully after losing the elections. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/world/africa/05ivory.html?_r=1&ref=laurent_gbagbo">Early December 2010 both men were sworn in as the country's new president</a>. For the past four months, the country has been on the brink of a civil war - and it still is. Alassane Ouattara got 55% of the votes, Laurent Gbagbo 45%. While publicly fighting, the two opponents seem not to dislike each other. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595560391169071922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCOgNFq_AIjSNgiLQNRprG2YWayUDn9kqRWy4yNw1n-Pmph7wUhVvd7ZHJOWfod9QXPh8kIB0y5e0rmMGEi_7vYXh8vvCFZeipvW3NzWsjc-y_mIkL2bPDatNjb0mkjwKUmwMxoQN18-G/s200/GbagboAndOuattara.jpg" /> However, after the fighting started, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/110322/ivory-coast-refugees-liberia-ouattara-gbagbo">tens of thousands Ivorians have fled to neighbouring Liberia</a>, maybe even more than a hundred thousand. See my <a href="http://liberianperspectives.blogspot.com/">December 9 posting, <em>'Liberia and the Ivory Coast Crisis'</em>, </a>which also explains the power vacuum left by the death of the country's first president, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lix_Houphou%C3%ABt-Boigny">Félix Houphouët-Boigny</a>, in 1993. Since then, the country has experienced turmoil. Will that be ending now? Where will Ivory Coast be heading to? In my opinion there are three options. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595552590840505890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaGgHjokvYx0Vcx6JNeMtBEaSiVai94TEaYQpIx9D05WtthetlCnRgEvBGEcKqvN-hjncoo3VmGlhhN6EtFg3Q93Q2_G53DvU2FjDNgpc9h9JLjnewsSprcncyrPUJvjOQ3lSUJjzBk6-/s200/Ouattara1.jpg" />First, and let's look at the Ivorian scene from a positive and optimistic angle, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12934834">Allassane Ouattara </a>- his name indicates his Burkinabe origin - manages to install himself as the country's legitimate president and convinces his fellow-countrymen to forget about revenge. After all, some 45% of the people voted for Gbagbo. The exodus of Ivorians now taking place contradicts the probability of this option. People who are fleeing and leaving the country are not thinking of revenge but they may translate the feelings of people in their community who decide to stay. <a href="http://www.newtimes.com.gh/story/497">The abundance of weapons in the region </a>is another reason to worry. This brings me to the second option. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595554467207186978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5IHGBZ_U80vfBjhoiKlgDVhnP2EG1tgUfBL50Suy6BT1Kgn0sWK0n6UVeAuOSI7V26Uf4IdyAoCXGqpQTdr2urDoHOdo5qi5lxghi9pmwHI1nSlhdzedF8Fxcd5ZACvFUd2au3Xn0chk/s200/LiberiaCivilWar.jpg" />Another civil war will ravage the region - after the wars in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/01/99/sierra_leone/251251.stm">Sierra Leone </a>and in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Liberian_Civil_War">Liberia</a>. In this option there will be rising numbers of IPDs, internally displaced persons (Ivorians who look for a safe shelter within their own country) and of refugees, people fleeing to neighbouring countries: Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Liberia. It will be clear that in this option the regional perturbation may inspire governments of countries involved - directly or indirectly - to intervene, openly or covertly. This reaction might not be restricted to neighbouring countries. <a href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/finance/?blurb=544">The regional 'policeman' </a>- Nigeria - may be willing to intervene, to confirm its positions as <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/10/nigeria-africa-superpower">the region's superpower</a>. This brings me to the last option: <a href="http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m76794&hd=&size=1&l=e">foreign intervention</a>. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595558079884772738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBQkbNg5PxffQLDS3rT00lhXgvXATQOLB5YN4BHihVVJ10c97EDbCwqXKwbrPE_doZEUMeUOAtK2m-H_b_SmFen5dAXnU9ZhzR5m0vb_Q3Lcf2Zvwg6osqkQ5MiKSqIvNPhW8LVregqDW/s200/UNinIvoryCoast.jpg" /> Just as <a href="http://euobserver.com/9/32163">France intervened military in Ivory Coast</a>, which made yesterday's arrest of Laurent Gbagbo possible, Nigeria may have its own reasons to intervene. After all, Nigeria did come to the rescue of Liberia, in <a href="http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/sarticles/shedding_nigerian_blood_for_libe.htm">1990</a>. The reasons are known, allegedly <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm">'special' relations between then Nigerian President Ibrahim Babangida and the Liberian President Samuel Doe</a>. This week, <a href="http://africanelections.tripod.com/ng.html">presidential elections </a>will be held in Nigeria and most likely the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan - who took over from <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/7683904/Nigerian-president-Umaru-YarAdua-dies-after-months-of-illness.html">president Yar'Adua who died in office </a>- will win the elections. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 162px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595559416049095170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtFvRPnKwOIvIuMCwfLM-ThYVsD2MDJ2GjFL2qQ3oKjWniMYkovZTqtfcwGcK0tq6vCRwhiYlop8V1eJOX-07gPoVZrI0ikCE0P9BnIIeSw734-NKOsAubKq_R96J-b_-YoW4REQu4wpq/s200/JonathanGoodluck1.jpg" />Once he is elected in his own right, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12192152">President Goodluck Jonathan </a>may decide to confirm <a href="http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15873:vision-2020-nigeria-takes-first-step--fg-states-to-cough-out-n32tr&catid=3:business&Itemid=3">Nigeria's aspirations</a>, not only to belong to the G20 - the world's leading 20 economies - in 2020 but also to be a superpower in Africa. After all, Nigeria is not only the second economy in Sub-Saharan Africa but with 150 million inhabitants also Africa's biggest country. One out of every five black Africans is Nigerian. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 189px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595584046330799426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzCaSBue4UWLp0hyphenhyphenrxtpPElkG_7j_abe_IWw3hgbJCvcC4jCyUV8pa_a5bANlIzj71UA0jShnE4d-26hRzzXlY0BLeca42_hrVcnbkEHmE0j8L8Ee9lnPHTFEEBjcSMNwB4zdw5hMThHF/s200/Nigeria1.gif" /> <br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>As April 12 1980 was a U-turn for Liberia , I hope that April 12 2011 turns out to be a U-turn for the people of Ivory Coast. The country has all the potential to become one of the region's leading economies, after Nigeria and Ghana. As the French say: <em>'Affaire à suivre'</em> - which means: <em>To be followed</em>.</div></div></div></div></div></div>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-83634749511367511842011-03-08T21:26:00.004+01:002011-03-09T07:55:30.042+01:00<em>Tuesday, March 8<br /></em><strong>Addition to my March 1 posting on 'Bullet or ballot propelled changes in Africa'<br /></strong><br />There are over 50 'countries' in 'Africa' - the smallest being the Seychelles, population wise, the biggest of course Nigeria - so the fact that I missed two countries in my last posting may be pardoned. Nevertheless, a serious error. Since I was focusing on the countries where presidential elections would be held I did not mention the two Presidents who as far back as 1979 (!) assumed the Presidency: Angola's President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Eduardo_dos_Santos">José Eduardo dos Santos </a>and Equatorial Guinea's President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teodoro_Obiang_Nguema_Mbasogo">Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo</a>, who became President in a <em>coup</em> that led to the execution of his deposed uncle, <a href="http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard/Article/Macias-Nguema--Ruthless-and-bloody-dictator/117291">Francisco Macías Nguema</a>.<br /><br />Nowadays 67-year-old José Eduardo dos Santos, who succeeded Agostinho Neto who had died in office, is known as <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8263352.stm">Angola's silent leader</a>. Presidential elections are not held in the country. President Teodoro Nguema suffers from prostate cancer and prepares his <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/22/teodorins_world?page=full">corrupt playboy-son-turned-minister Teodorin</a> for the Presidency of this oil-rich country, Africa's Kuwait. Very recently, '<em>Teodorin</em>' came into the news because of his purchase of a <a href="http://www.ghanamma.com/2011/02/28/dictators-son-teodorin-obiang-ordered-375m-yacht/">375 million dollar yacht</a>. But who's to blame? The 'bad guy' Teodorin, the oil companies, the Swiss banks or the German shipyards?<br /><br /><div align="left">By the way, this dynasty thing of African leaders, I don't get it. When Gabon president Omar Bongo, Africa's longest ruling President, died in June 2009, he was succeeded by <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1281887/President-Gabon-Ali-Ben-Bongo-Ondimba-sparks-outrage-buying-85million-official-residence--PARIS.html">his son Ali </a>. Four years earlier Togolese President Eyadéma had died and he was also succeeded by this son, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faure_Gnassingb%C3%A9">Faure Ngassingbé</a>. And when in 2001 <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/k/laurent_kabila/index.html">President Laurent Kabila was shot </a>- by one of his security guards - his son Joseph still managed to get a popular vote allowing him to rule as the president of this vast Central African country. Wikileaks recently revealed that Joseph Kabila bribed members of the Congolese Parliamant to ensure his forthcoming re-election, in November of this year.<br /><br />Some people have qualified the present decade as <em>'The Scramble for African Oil'</em> - referring to the Scramble for Africa, the colonial conquest of Afica, as from the 1880s onwards. Of course, it is not only oil. Also coltan, for instance, in Eastern Congo, which keeps the war in this vast Central African country going.<br /><br />So far, we only dicscussed African presidents and no kings, although the line between them seems to be thin. Consequently we haven't mentioned King Mwsati III of Swaziland who rules since 1986.<br /><br />There seems to be a big gap between the populace and the elite - in almost every African country - and where leaders are not inclined to listen to the people, their day will come.<br /><br />A big question remains: How to judge people who with the connivance of Swiss bankers, Western oil companies, and European and US political leaders - who sought their own interests - took advantage of the circumstances and enriched themselves, illegally.<br /><br />The ballot or the bullet???? </div>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-25122695496497229482011-03-01T22:27:00.006+01:002011-03-02T20:43:06.146+01:00<em>Tuesday, March 1</em><br /><strong>Ballot or bullet propelled changes in Africa in 2011?<br /><br /></strong>In January, Tunisia's President Ben Ali fell and in February Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak. Will in March the Libyan people oust its leader, Muammar Muhammed al-Gaddafi <em>aka</em> Colonel Gaddafi? Where will Gaddafi go to? <a href="http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/75703,news-comment,news-politics,could-robert-mugabe-be-libyas-colonel-muammar-gaddafis-last-hope">To his friend Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe?<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579231396675297426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2JF1uQyQDxGX3Q8DXBYL_NwWZDB9-FxSOVY6xGzN0FByi8CoIscEqlggscnT6ORmkRMdkh-AXI6Wi3OMTJScYVqXSuzBaq0Qadfju_pYwwhMQGWyLU1lXhrVA2IhybGkXdpXUjlozqma/s200/GaddafiAndMugabe.jpg" /></a>Will he join Ethiopia's former dictator, 'the Red Emperor', <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengistu_Haile_Mariam">Mengistu Haile Mariam</a>, who lives just outside the capital of Harare, or will he share the fate of Romanian president Nicolae Ceausescu who was dethroned by a people's revolution and after a two-hour trial <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8430213.stm">executed</a>? Both Gaddafi and Ceausescu created a pervasive personality cult and in the end were completely disconnected from reality. Or will Colonel Gaddafi follow former Liberian dictator <a href="http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/">Charles Taylor's footsteps in The Hague </a>and <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/27/us-libya-icc-idUSTRE71Q1DB20110227">stand trial before the International Criminal Court </a>for human rights violations, mass murder and crimes against humanity? Will his reign come to an end by revolutionary forces or will there be a US-led military intervention to stop an emerging civil war causing tens of thousands mainly migrant workers to flee to neighboring countries? How many uncertainties there are, there is no doubt that Gaddafi is on his way out. His widely televised delusional speech yesterday reminds us of the <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/08/1049567681668.html">Iraqi Information Minister</a> who standing before a camera in 2003 denied the advancement of US troops while bombs exploded behind his back.<br /><br />It is the end of an era. In 1972, three years after Colonel Gaddafi had seized power and <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/1/newsid_3911000/3911587.stm">dethroned King Idriss </a>I visited Libya and was very much impressed. The country's capital Tripoli was well organized, the bonanza of the oil revenues was clearly visible in this sparsely populated country of less than two million people. Nowadays, the per capita income in this North African country is <a href="http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/PROJECTS/EXTPOLICIES/EXTOPMANUAL/0,,contentMDK:22239529~menuPK:51508119~pagePK:64141683~piPK:4688102~theSitePK:502184,00.html">among the highest in Africa</a>, only surpassed by the tiny Central African oil state of Equatorial Guinea.<br /><br />As referred to in my posts of November 5 last year and January 4 this year, the year 2011 is a year of elections in Africa. The power of the ballot box. Presidential elections are scheduled in 18 African countries: 6 in West Africa (Benin, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Liberia, Niger and Nigeria), 5 in Central Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sao Tomé & Principe) , 3 in Eastern Africa (Djibouti, Seychelles, Uganda), 3 in Southern Africa (Madagascar, Zambia, Zimbabwe), and 1 in North Africa: Egypt. But are the people of these and other countries willing to wait for a democratic opportunity to change their leaders? Already in Egypt, the population made it clear that it did not want to wait until election time, though the change was peaceful.<br /><br />Is there a possibility that the revolutionary mood in North Africa spreads to Sub-Saharan Africa? In six Sub-Saharan countries the sitting President has been in power for over 20 years and is not considering leaving. Among them Paul Biya, also called <a href="http://www.saharareporters.com/article/cameroon-paul-biya-ghadafi-black-africa">the Gaddafi of Black Africa</a>. In February 2008 he merciless crushed a demonstration against hs government leaving hundreds of young Cameroonians dead. Paul Biya has been President of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1042937.stm">Cameroon</a> since 1982 and although presidential elections are slated for this year, no one expects him to relinquish power. His only senior in Africa is the notorious <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/22/robert-mugabe-birthday-zi_n_826801.html#s244402">87-year </a>old <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1064589.stm#leaders">Robert Mugabe </a>of Zimbabwe, in power since the country's independence from Britain in 1980. The 2008 elections were widely disputed and forced Mugabe into a coalition government with his arch rival now Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Mugabe is increasingly facing calls to resign but refuses, claiming <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5372680.ece">'Zimbabwe is mine - I will never surrender.'</a><br /><br />Two other Presidents shot their way to the Presidency: Yoweri Museveni (Uganda, 1986) and Blaise Compaoré (Burkina Faso, 1987). In the February 18 elections, last month, Museveni won more than two-thirds of the votes in elections rejected by the opposition as <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/20/ugandan-leader-wins-presidential-election">fraudulent</a>. Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaoré had his mandate easily renewed in <a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/151956.html">November 2010</a>.<br /><br />Prime Minister, not President, Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and President Idriss Deby of Chad also came to power through the barrel of a gun - both in 1991 and are not considering another job. <a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/article939766.ece/Presidents-party-wins-Chads-election">Deby easily won </a>the February elections of this year in the oil-rich Central African country. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4545711.stm">Meles Zenawi </a>- increasingly accused of political repression and a disregard for civil liberties - occasionally announces his departure as the country's <em>de facto</em> leader but nevertheless holds on to power.<br /><br />There are no clear signs that there will be many substantial political changes in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2011 - neither by the bullet nor by the ballot. But <em>íf</em> a revolt would erupt in countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Uganda or Zimbabwe nobody can be surprised.Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-26877252034698304732011-02-11T23:03:00.010+01:002011-02-13T18:27:17.950+01:00<em>Friday, February 11<br /></em><strong>The January 25 revolution in Egypt and the hypocricy of Western political leaders </strong><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572616569178041746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvSLE2_GESPqUONTMaP9I6N3_n_47CPzb-HyeJf-4dANe3z1ur_w-EdiYfIoj85f8HaUoc06AG7MA7INjTTlU0D5dSEzRvL_W-yDQ67ldA1gpe1jEfDx5Tu3TocSR_tdTfbBR6aebhePo/s200/MubarakAndObama2.jpg" /> After the <a href="http://blog.corbis.com/?p=1323">Jasmine revolution in Tunisia</a>, Pharao country Egypt fell last night. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698">President Hosni Mubarak resigned</a> - most likely because the army refused to fire at the demonstrators occupying <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahrir_Square">Tahrir Square </a>for 18 days in a row. After Tunisia's Ben Ali and Egypt's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosni_Mubarak">Hosni Mubarak</a>, who's next? Ghadaffi of neighbouring Libya, Africa's longest 'serving' president? In 1969, the then <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/1/newsid_3911000/3911587.stm">27-year old Colonel Ghadaffi ousted King Idris 1st </a>and became a King himself. Or will another Arab leader be the next one to fall?<br /><br />What surprises me most, listening to the comments of world leaders reacting on the stepping down of President Mubarak, is their hypocricy. Yesterday they would have been proud to meet with the Egyptian leader, now they hasten to declare that he was a dictator and that the will of the Egyptian people prevails. They never raised their voices after rigged polls and elections confirming Mubarak in power. Mubarak was re-elected on four occasions: in 1987, 1993, 1999 and 2005. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/BlindChance/new-egypt-government-to-b_1_n_815682_75615375.html">All US Presidents, without exception, befriended and flattered Mubarak</a>: <a href="http://www.foxnewsinsider.com/2011/02/06/president-reagan-president-mubarak-in-1984-meeting/">Ronald Reagan</a>, <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1079/is_n2147_v89/ai_7723217/">Bush Sr</a>., <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Egypt-Pres-Mubarak-steps-down-US-President-Bill-Clinton-L-and-Egyptian-President-Hosni-Mubarak/ss/events/wl/012511egyptprotest/im:/110211/ids_photos_wl/r4146719745.jpg/">Bill Clinton</a>, <a href="http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/story.html?id=4266039">Bush Jr</a>, and even <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/17/al-ahram-newspaper-doctored-photo-hosni-mubarak">Barrack Obama</a>.<br /><br />It is all about geopolitics. Egypt is pivotal in the Arab world, pivotal in the conflict with Israel . Meanwhile, the erroneous comments of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/10/AR2011021007570.html">CIA Director Panetta </a>on events in Egypt underline my statement that many people who comment on events abroad are not really knowing wat is going on (see my January 18 posting).<br /><br />The 25 January revolution started on Facebook when Google executive and political activist <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703989504576127621712695188.html">Wael Ghonim</a> called for a demonstration against Mubarak. The power of an electronic social network was stronger than that of an aging, 82-year old President who clinged to power. Two weeks ago already his family had left Egypt and now Mohammed Hosni Mubarak follows - unless he will be arrested and has to account for his 30 years in power. A spokeman for Swiss banks today announced that the bank accounts of the Mubarak family were frozen. But why now and not earlier? It is alleged that the Mubarak family owns between 50 and 70 billion dollars, some sources even mention an amount of <a href="http://www.politicolnews.com/update-on-mubaraks-stolen-billions/">90 billion dollars</a>. If the US secret agency CIA knew this, it is implicitly co-responsible for the enrichment of the Mubarak family. The US goverment yearly transferred a billion dollars to Egypt. In case the US secret service agency wasn't aware of the enrichment of the Mubaraks, the organisation is incompetent and president Obama has a serious problem.<br /><br />This brings me to my main point. Egypt is among 18 African countries where presidential elections are scheduled this year. Governments in Europe and North America pretend they are genuinely interested in real democratic, multi-party elections in Africa. Are they really? Or do they not want to endanger the supply of vital raw materials like oil from Nigeria and Angola? Are they really more interested in peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast than in the high costs of human tragedies as a result of civil war and the connected risks of instability in the region? Are they really concerned about democracy in Kenya or Ethiopia or is their real interest the containment of islamic influence in East Africa?<br /><br />And what about the US interests for the presidential elections in Liberia? Why should they bother? Is it genuine interest and sympathy for this small West African country and its three million inhabitants or just geopolitics combined with a hidden desire to get rid of the tens of thousands Liberians living in the USA?<br /><br />History teaches us that it is self-interest and not altruism that dictates the agenda of Western politicians. Even if this results in hypocricy.Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-32516814729878160722011-01-17T20:58:00.003+01:002011-01-18T23:01:06.467+01:00<em>Tuesday, January 18<br /></em><strong>Turmoil in Tunisia</strong><br /><br /><em>Freedom! Democracy!</em> <a href="http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/01/154684.htm">Events in Tunisia </a>show that not only Presidents rule in Africa (see my January 4 post) but also people in the streets have a chance to decide on the future of their countries. I was touched by the recent <em>revolution </em>in Tunisia. This country has a special place in my heart since I first visited it nearly forty years ago, in 1972. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/obituaries/703907.stm">President Habib Bourguiba</a> at the time ruled the country. He was the country's first president and his presidency was characterized by a pro-Western stance, the liberalization of the economy and a number of progressive reforms especially in the areas of education and women's rights. In 1975 he became President-for-life, but in 1987 his just appointed Prime Minister deposed him. President Habib Bourguiba had just celebrated his 84th birthday but was seriously ill, suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Why for God's sake is it that some Presidents don't want to give up and want to hold on power even when they are physically and mentally no longer fit??<br /><br />His successor's name was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zine_El_Abidine_Ben_Ali">Zine El Abidine Ben Ali aka Ben Ali,</a> Tunisia's second President and last week ousted by people in the streets who voted with their feet. It is a shame that after being president for more than 23 years, he did not feel the responsibility to stay and account for his deeds and/or misdeeds.<br /><br />Something else comes to my mind. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia">Tunisia</a> was until recently considered one of the politically most stable countries in Africa though in the Economist's <a href="http://www.directdemocracyuk.com/blog/2010/12/democracy-index-2010.html">2010 Democratic Index </a>it only ranks # 144 out of 167 classified countries. I have lived in a number of <em>'politically very stable'</em> African countries, in particular Liberia and Burkina Faso, formerly called Upper Volta. In <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm">1980</a> I witnessed the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/EJRoye.htm">second</a> <em>coup</em> in Liberia's history whereas I went through three <em>coups d'état</em> in Ouagadougou, the capital of nowadays Burkina Faso, in 1980-1983: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saye_Zerbo">Colonel Saye Zerbo </a>(1980), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Ou%C3%A9draogo">Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo </a>(1982) and <a href="http://www.thomassankara.net/spip.php?article769&lang=fr">Thomas Sankara </a>(1983). The latter seized power in a bloody <em>coup</em> together with his life-old friend, Blaise Compaore, who four years later betrayed him and became president of this poor, landlocked country. Blaise Compaore was re-elected in a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11845902">landslide victory </a>in November last year.<br /><br /><em>What does all this teach us? I think of three conclusions and lessons.</em><br /><br />First, <strong>don't be misled by the label 'politically stable'</strong>. Unfortunately, my experience tells me that most reports on <em>'politically stable countries'</em> come from people who hardly know these countries.<br />The following two conclusions particularly apply to presidents-in-power and their political advisors. <strong>'Don't stay too long in power. Prepare for your successor.'</strong>, is one of them. The cases of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lix_Houphou%C3%ABt-Boigny">President Houphouet-Boigny of Ivory Coast </a>(1960-1993) and of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobutu_Sese_Seko">President Mobutu Sese Seko</a> of nowadays the Democratic Repulic of Congo (DRC), formerly known as Zaïre (1965-1998) , very well illustrate the validity of this conclusion. The other conclusion and lesson is: <strong>'Don't misjudge people but be aware of the signals coming from society.'</strong><br /><br />I was in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1043500.stm">Liberia</a> and in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Upper_Volta">Upper Volta </a>during these events and <em>coups</em>, and can assure you that in both countries the <em>regime change</em> was <strong>not</strong> a complete surprise. As early as 1947 the American author Raymond Leslie Buell had predicted the collapse of Americo-Liberian rule in Liberia in his book <em>'Liberia: A Century of Survival 1847 - 1947'</em> whereas in August 1983 the power struggle between potential plotters was evident. A few days before the <em>coup</em> I was even warned by a Burkinabé colleague with good connections in the military that <em>'since something is</em> <em>going to happen this weekend, it would be better to stay home.'</em> Eventually, Captain Thomas Sankara was the first to strike and staged his <em>coup</em> on Thursday night..<br /><br /><strong>What does this say about Liberia?</strong><br /><br />I tend to say to <a href="http://www.google.nl/images?hl=nl&q=Ellen+Johnson+Sirleaf&psj=1&wrapid=tlif129530227417010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=l740Ta-gB8-YOtjn7LcC&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CEYQsAQwAg&biw=1003&bih=567">'Ellen'</a>: <em>'Don't push your luck'</em>. She has already done a tremendous lot for Liberia and much remains to be done. It will take more than two Administrations to achieve this. I sincerily hope that Liberia will have a stable government for the next few years - and certainly <a href="http://www.emansion.gov.lr/content.php?sub=President" related="'The%20President">'Ellen</a>' will have a very important role to play in achieving it - but (recent) history teaches us that we have to listen to the voice of the people in the streets before it is too late!Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-77180152325337941892011-01-04T20:49:00.002+01:002011-01-04T22:43:25.088+01:00<em>Tuesday, January 4</em><br /><strong>2011 Election Year<br /><br /></strong>I may provoke you but I am convinced that in all African countries <strong>Presidents rule and not Parliaments. </strong><br /><br />This year presidential elections will be held in Liberia and in 17 (!) other African countries, that means in one out of three countries. As mentioned previously <em>(see my post dated November 5, last year, below)</em> in about 10 countries parliamentary and local elections will be held too, but I will focus here on the presidential elections. Why? Because I don't believe that in African countries national or local parliaments make the difference. Presidents decide in African countries, not parliaments. More about this later.<br /><br />There is an excellent site of the Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy in Africa - the name sounds very politically correct - that shows the <a href="http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/calendar2011.htm">elections calender for 2011 </a>for all African countries. The 18 countries where presidential elections will be held: 6 in West Africa, 5 in Central Africa, 3 in East Africa, 3 in Southern Africa, and one country in North Africa. About 500 million people live in the countries, half the population of the continent. See my November 5, 2010 post (<em>below</em>) for the names of the countries.<br /><br />The presidential elections in Liberia are important and promise to be hectic considering only the number of presidential candidates, at least 10. That may not be different in other African countries where presidential elections wil be held.<br /><br />For the coming months I will comment here on how the forthcoming elections in Liberia compare with presidential elections in other countries. We all know that in certain countries preparatory campaigns are not transparant, political parties and aspirant presidential candidates are influenced, state media monopolize 'information', and that voters are bought. <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/201012310782.html">Recent developments</a> within the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_for_Peace_and_Democracy">Alliance for Peace and Democracy</a>, the political party of veteran politician <a href="http://www.theperspective.org/strangebedfellows.html">Toga Nah Tipoteh</a>, are extremely illustrative.<br /><br />Is Liberia different? Where are similarities? Are there risques to have what happens in Ivory Coast repeated? What will happen in Africa's most populous country, Nigeria? You will read it here. If you're interested in Africa and Liberia, <strong>visit this blog again.</strong>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-42225215115359980662010-12-08T22:44:00.005+01:002010-12-09T02:13:49.914+01:00</em>Thursday, December 9
<br /><strong>Liberia and the Ivory Coast Crisis
<br />
<br /></strong>For more than 30 years Ivory Coast was a beacon of prosperity and peace in West Africa (1960 - 1993). The economic miracle that took place in the worlds' number 1 producer of cocoa attracted millions of migrant workers from neighboring states, notably Mali and Burkina Faso. The country's first President, <a href="http://africanhistory.about.com/od/ctedivoir1/a/Bio-Houphouet-Boigny.htm">Houphouët-Boigny</a>, was a national hero, nearly a saint. However, he did not allow any contestant to oppose to his rule and popularity. When he died, almost exactly 17 years ago, on December 7, 1993 a power struggle emerged which initially was won by the president of the country's parliamant, <a href="http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Konan_B%C3%A9di%C3%A9">Henri Konan Bedié </a>- who defeated the then Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara - but who already in 1995 had to face a <em>coup</em> attempt and who four years later was forced out of power by a <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/ivory-coast.htm"><em>military coup</em> </a>whose leaders asked one of Bedié's enemies, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gu%C3%A9%C3%AF">General Robert Guéï</a>, to lead the junta. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_C%C3%B4te_d">2000 presidential elections</a>, from which Alessane Ouattara was excluded because of his alleged Burkina origin, were boycotted by the major political parties. General Guéï claimed to have won the elections but street protests eventually brought Laurent Gbagbo, leader of a small and relatively insignificant political party, to the <a href="http://www.cotedivoirepr.ci/">presidential palace</a>. Two years later the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/1043014.stm">civil war </a>started, General Robert Guéï was <a href="http://www.51voa.com/VOA_Standard_English/VOA_Standard_7227.html">assassinated</a>. Since 2002 the country has been divided: the north under control of the 'rebel forces', the south 'governed' by President Gbagbo whose presidential mandate expired in 2005 but who managed to postpone presidential elections until recently, in 2010.
<br />
<br />According to virtually all observers the recent presidential elections were won by Alassane Ouattara - who won 54% of the vote - but Laurent Gbagbo claimed he had won the elections. Subsequently <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/world/africa/05ivory.html?_r=1&ref=laurent_gbagbo">both men had themselves sworn in as the country's new president</a>.
<br />
<br />The 68-year old Alassane Dramane Ouattara aka ADO is a former Vice Governor of the BCEA, the Central Bank of West African States, and a former high ranking official of the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC. Prior to his appointment by President Houhouët-Boigny as Prime Minister, in 1990, ADO was Director of the Africa Department of the IMF. After Houphouët-Boigny's death he returned to Washington as the <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/omd/bios/ado.htm">IMF's Deputy Managing Director.
<br />
<br /></a>Alessane Ouattara is supported by <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11917359">France, Europe, the US and UN</a>. Also the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) <a href="http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/cote-d">back Ouattara and reject Gbagbo</a>, and have decided to suspend Ivory Coast from the regional organization. <a href="http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/cote-d">Former South Africa President Mbeki mediates on behalf of the African Union </a>whereas the chair of the Mano River Union, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-africa-11947622">has warned former Liberian warlords against interference in the Ivorian crisis</a>. All fear that Ivory Coast is heading to civil war. Gio speaking Ivorians from the Yacouba tribe, supporters of Gbagbo, are <a href="http://theinquirer.com.lr/story.php?record_id=3336&sub=14">fleeing to Liberia</a>. They consider this neighboring country a safer heaven than their own country where <a href="http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unoci/">9,000 UN peacekeepers </a>are stationed. Despite the unfolding tragedy in Ivory Coast, it is something the Sirleaf Administration can be proud of - only a few years ago Liberia was a hell from which tens of thousands fled: to neighboring countries, to Europe, and to the USA.
<br />
<br />What will happen in the near future is uncertain. Politicians, mediators and other stakeholders will try to find a political solution, maybe a power-sharing agreement but it is not likely to work. Experiences in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7286592.stm">Kenya</a> and <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/the-big-question-will-power-sharing-in-zimbabwe-work-and-is-it-time-to-lift-sanctions-1544956.html">Zimbabwe</a> are not giving us much hope. The country may slip into chaos again. Both contestants - Gbagbo, an academic historian, and Ouattara, a development economist - are going for the highest prize: the presidential palace. Only one can win. I fear that the real losers will be the population of Ivory Coast and in neighboring countries including Liberia.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>
<br /></strong><strong></strong><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></p></strong>
<br />
<br />
<br /></strong>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-60744775708513480232010-11-21T12:47:00.002+01:002010-11-21T15:44:09.070+01:00<em>Sunday, November 21<br /></em><strong>Presidential elections in Nigeria and Liberia: the stakes and the contenders<br /><br /></strong>The <a href="http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011053441118">October 1 Abuja bombings </a>and the <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/20/ap/africa/main7073726.shtml?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsTheEarlyShowRecipes+(CBS+News%3A+The+Early+Show%3A+Recipes)">catch of heavy weapons, artillary rockets and mortars, and ammunition</a> in Lagos in the same month may be related to an international gang of drug traffickers or to Nigerian militants of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_the_Emancipation_of_the_Niger_Delta">MEND</a>, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta - or they may be inspired by the forthcoming National and State elections. In any case, it seems increasingly likely that next year will be a violent one in Africa's most populous country. The stakes are getter higher in Nigeria's 2011 presidential elections: not only national unity and the distribution of the oil revenues amounting to tens of billions US dollars - see my November 14 post - but also regional peace and even Nigeria's ambitions to join the world's top twenty economies by the year <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_Vision_2020">2020</a>. The presidential elections are likely to be accompanied by political instability and north-south clashes.<br />Over 60 political parties have registered with the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), for the National and State elections, but for the presidential elections the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) is the only one that has a nation-wide base, all other parties being based on specific regions or States. The battle for the presidential nomination divides the north and the souyh of the country. Under the unwritten regional power sharing rules of the PDP a President - from the south or the north of the country - may serve two terms. After the southerner Olusegun Obasanjo had served two terms, the northerner Yar'Adua became President but he died before the end of his first term and was succeeded by the Vice President, Jonathan Goodluck who hails from the south. The latter hopes to win the party's nomination for next year's presidential elections but the northerners are convined that it is their turn. Four northerns hope to win the PDP's nomination: General <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8615529.stm">Ibrahim Babangida</a> (aka IBB), former military ruler (1985 - 1993) and one of the wealthiest men in the country; former Vice President <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/201008160025.html">Atiku Abubakar</a>; Kwara State Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and former National Security Advisor Lieutenant-General Aliyn Mohammed Gusau. Governor Saraki is with his 49 years the youngest of the four, IBB being the oldest (69), closely folowed by Gusau (67) and Atiku (65). It is hard to tell <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/201011100781.html">who will be the consensus candidate from the north</a> but that a consensus candidate will have to be found is certain. If the northerners fail to realize this, Jonathan Goodluck is sure to win the PDP's presidential nomination. What will happen if Jonathan Goodluck does not win his party's nomination is a big question mark, but increased violence is very likely.<br /><br />In Liberia 72-year old President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf hopes to win a second term. Her party, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_Party_(Liberia)">Unity Party </a>(UP), successfully merged with the Liberian Action Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) which significantly increased her chances to win the presidential elections. However, the outcome of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberian_general_election,_2011">2011 presidential elections </a>will depend much on two factors. First, the verdict in the <a href="http://www.charlestaylortrial.org/">Taylor trial</a>, expected at the end of this year or early 2011. If Charles Taylor would be acquitted by the <a href="http://www.sc-sl.org/">Special Court for Sierra Leone </a>- which cannot be totally ruled out - everything is likely to change. Secondly, the winner of the power struggle within what is sometimes called 'the coalition of rivals': former <a href="http://www.liberiansoccer.com/george%20weah.htm">footbal star </a>George Weah's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_for_Democratic_Change">Coalition for Democratic Change </a>(CDC) which also includes the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) of former <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/lurd.htm">LURD</a> leader Sekou Damate Conneh, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Patriotic_Party">National Patriotic Party</a> (Taylor's party), and the Liberia National Union of <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/201010140848.html">Winston Tubman</a>. George Weah ended second in the 2005 presidential elections and with his 44 years he stands for the candidate of the youth. For the past few years he has studied business administration in the USA to improve his experience and reputation.<br />Other presidential candidates are <a href="http://www.theliberiandialogue.org/articles/c090207tws.htm">Charles Brumskine</a>, a former Taylor ally, who ended third in the 2005 presidential elections, <a href="http://www.inprofiledaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1927:dew-mayson-for-presidency-as-democratic-alliance-stirspolitical-soup&catid=1:headlines&Itemid=56">Dew Mayson</a>, academician, businessman and politician who was ambassador to France under President Doe, <a href="http://www.varneyshermanforpresident.org/abovarney.html">Varney Sherman</a>, now leader of the New Unity Party <a href="http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/7102">after winning an internal struggle from Henry Fahnbulleh</a>, Sherman was fifth in the 2005 elections, and - last but not least - former warlord and Senator for Nimba County, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11403964">Prince Johnson </a>(see my October 13 post commenting on his candidacy).<br /><br />Also in Liberia the stakes are high: peace, political stability, national reconciliation, economic recovery and the country's international reputation. Until the elections, peace will more or less be guaranteed by the UN Mission to Liberia; UNMIL may even stay beyond October 2011 which will favorably affect the much needed political stability. However, national and foreign investors will need guarantees to expand investments: political stability, national reconciliation, economic reforms, and less corruption which nowadays is rampant. National reconciliation will have to come from within and Liberia will need leaders who are objective, competent, visionary and - above all - unpartial. The ethnic divide and the still existing cleavage between 'Americo-Liberians' and 'Afro-Liberians' will have to disappear if Liberia is to develop and prosper.<br /><br />Most if not all presidential contestants - both in Liberia and Nigeria - are silent about their views and strategies to tackle the most important political, economic and social problems of the country of which they aspire to be President. The objectives of the political parties which they represent are largely unknown - if they even exist. In both countries the struggle for the presidency seems to be held between politicians who only seem to be interested in power or money - or both.Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-17861792661810247272010-11-14T16:09:00.002+01:002010-11-14T19:41:06.472+01:00<em>Sunday, November 14</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Presidential elections in Nigeria and Liberia: The issues at stake</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuja">Abuja</a> officially became the capital city of Nigeria in 1991, replacing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos">Lagos</a>. It is located in the centre of the country in the <a href="http://fct.gov.ng/v2/">Federal Capital Territory</a>. Built in the 1980s and 1990s, it is a planned city, comparable to the capital of Brazil since 1960, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bras%C3%ADlia">Brasilia</a>, which must have inspired the Nigerians. <a href="http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/">The Federal Republic of Nigeria </a>comprises of 36 States. Click <a href="http://www.nigerianprofessional.com/states.html">here</a> if you want to know more about each State and <a href="http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/geography.html">here</a> for a map showing the 36 States. Lagos is by far the largest of the Nigerian cities and with an estimated population of some 15 million people it is the second largest city on the African continent, after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo">Cairo</a>. Nobody knows how many <a href="http://www3.sympatico.ca/truegrowth/demographics.htm">mega cities</a> Nigeria counts, there must be at least 20. With an overall population of 150 million people (estimate) and <a href="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1234487">black Africa's second largest economy</a>, after <a href="http://www.info.gov.za/aboutsa/economy.htm">South Africa</a>, Nigeria is a giant.<br /><br /><br /><br />With a total population of 3.5 million and a modern economy still devastated, seven years after the end of the <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/liberia-1997.htm">Second Civil War </a>and the departure of <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/charles_taylor.htm">warlord-president Charles Taylor</a>, Liberia cannot compare to Nigeria. Yet, in my opinion the forthcoming presidential elections are equally important in both countries. I will clarify this statement because I do realize that there will be many people who disagree with this comparison.<br /><br /><br /><br />In Nigeria, <a href="http://www.africanbusinessreview.co.za/industry-focus/logistics-and-distribution/2011-presidential-elections-might-stir-unrest-nigeria">the 2011 presidential elections might stir unrest</a>. After the death of <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/05/20105523627997165.html">President Yar'Adua</a>, a 'Northerner', earlier this year, a 'Southerner' took over, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8510390.stm">Vice President Goodluck Jonathan</a>. With over 250 ethnic groups Nigerian politics are characterized by an uncertain balance. Broadly speaking, we may distinguish <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/414840/Nigeria/55311/Hausaland">'Hausaland'</a> in the north and <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/414840/Nigeria/55312/Yorubaland-and-Benin">'Yorubaland'</a> in the southwest, whereas in the southeast of the country live the politically important <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/414840/Nigeria/55313/Igboland-and-the-delta-city-states">Igbos</a> - who unsuccessfully tried to break away from the rest of Nigeria in the late 1960s ('<a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/biafra.htm">the Biafra war'</a>). The political party of Yar'Adua and Jonathan Goodluck, the <a href="http://www.peopledemocraticparty.org/">Peoples Democratic Party</a>, is the only of the <a href="http://www.inecnigeria.org/index.php?cateid=3&contid=93">more than 60 registered political parties in Nigeria </a>which does not have a specific, narrow regional base (read: ethnic base). However, the first successful presidental candidate of the PDP, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2645805.stm">Olusegun Obasanjo</a>, a Yoruba and 'southerner', served two terms (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olusegun_Obasanjo">1999 - 2007</a>), after which a 'northerner' would serve two terms. Obasanjo was succeeded by Yar'Adua who, however, did not complete his first term. Consequently, northerners in the PDP now claim that not someone from the majority-Christian south - Goodluck Jonathan - but someone from the mainly Muslim north should be the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2011 elections. Nigeria is not only an ethnically diverse country but also there are important religious cleavages. But the most important difference may be yet to come.<br /><br /><br /><br />The oil wealth of the country is exploited in the south, in the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/africa_polluting_nigeria/html/1.stm">Niger Delta</a>, and the proceeds are distributed among all 36 States though a complicated system which leaves the southern states - where the wealth is generated - unsatisfied whereas the northern states are always looking for ways to increase their share. The Nigerian constitution does not allow the Federal Government to intervene in the affairs of the States. The governors of these States are nearly allmighty people. <br /><br />This is exactly what is at stake in the Nigerian presidential elections of next year: national unity, the distribution of oil revenues, and the immediate future of the continent's potential superpower. <em>'Nigeria is a nice set of countries'</em> as someone once told me. In fact, the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are 36 mini republics, their Governors being the unproclaimed presidents of these mini republics. Some of these States have a larger Gross Domestic Product or population than in neighbouring independent countries - like Liberia.<br /><br /><em>To be continued</em>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-81642833889124484352010-11-05T12:21:00.002+01:002010-11-05T14:27:54.608+01:00<em>Friday, November 5</em><br /><em></em><br /><strong>The 2011 presidential elections in Nigeria and Liberia</strong><br /><br />As of October 2010, it is foreseen that next year in one out of every three African countries presidential elections will be held, in 18 countries to be precise. In 9 more African countries parliamentary and/or local elections will be held too. This is a near-unprecendeted high number. Given the uneven distribution of Africa's population over the continent it is hard to tell how many people are involved in this democratic upsurge. My estimate would be that in total this may affect the lives of about 500 million people, slightly over half the total population of the continent. Three countries alone - Nigeria, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo - account for over 300 million, a striking illustration of the uneven distribution of the population over the continent.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/calendar2011.htm">Presidential elections are going to be held </a>- apart from unexpected postponements - in one North African country: Egypt, in 6 West African countries: Benin, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, in 5 Central African countries: Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sao Tomé & Príncipe, in three East African countries: Djibouti, Seychelles, Uganda, and in Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe in Southern Africa. Before readers of this blog will accuse me of diffusing misleading information, I will immediately add that the number of 'truly democratic countries' can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Many countries have seen the tenure of office of the sitting president repeatedly prolonged, and the rulers of four countries even are among the longest serving African presidents: Hosni Muburak in Egypte (29 years), Paul Biya in Cameroun (28 years), Yoweri Museveni in Uganda (24 years) and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe (officially since 1987, <em>de facto</em> head of state since the country's independence in 1980). To call these countries democratic countries would be besides the truth. The same applies to a number of other countries mentioned above though I will not dwell on this issue.<br /><br />I will focus on two countries where in 2011 presidential elections will be held: Liberia, where Africa's first democratically elected female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, aspires a second term, whereas in Nigeria the successor of president <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6187249.stm">Yar'Adua</a>, a 'northerner', who died in office earlier this year, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/06/goodluck-jonathan-sworn-i_n_565601.html">Goodluck Jonathan</a>, a 'southerner' hopes to be become elected as the leader of Africa's most populous country. The reasons why I selected these two countries out of the 18 where presidential elections will be held in 2010 are, first of all, that this blog is dedicated to events in Liberia, and secondly, because Nigeria - second in rank as Africa's most important economy - is going to be an economic superpower, comparable to the <a href="http://www.economywatch.com/international-organizations/bric.html">BRIC countries </a>(Brazil, Russia, India, China) that impress us nowadays.<br /><br />Last week when I was in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria - inspired by the capital of Brazil since 1960, Brasilia......<br /><br /><em>To be continued</em>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-89025171632611822982010-10-13T07:31:00.002+02:002010-10-13T08:48:28.988+02:00<em>Wednesday, October 13</em><br /><br />The following post is repeating my September 28 post which was incomplete due to technical difficulties. I have now included the links missing in my previous post.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Democracy or Impunity? The Long Walk To Democracy In Africa</strong><br /><br />Last week - in mid-September - it was announced in Monrovia that the infamous former Liberian warlord <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Johnson">Prince Johnson</a> is to run for President. Nineteen years ago Prince Yormie Johnson captured then President Samuel Doe, ordered his men to torture, mutilate and <a href="http://www.newstimeafrica.com/archives/1027">execute him</a>, while all gruesome details were videotaped. The tape, showing Johnson watching the spectacle while drinking a Budweiser beer, later found its way all over West Africa, was shown on TV all over the world and can still be seen on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFdCcRsKxYg">YouTube</a>.<br /><br />On September 22, James Fromoyan, the head of the independent Liberian National Electoral Committee (NEC), said that Johnson's recently created political party, the National Union for Democratic Progress (NUDP), met the constitutional requirements to compete in next year's presidential elections. Insignificant as this news may have been, it immediately made it to the major news sites (<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i-_v1HCmbRwiFoAYU7AMhrv2yoywD9ID20R80">AP</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jOrgHQts_B5shkHc2Ge0dng0YNOQ">AFP</a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11405087">BBC</a>, <a href="http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Butty-Liberia-Politics-Massaley-24September10-103695129.html">VOA</a>, etc.). Good news travels fast, but bad news sometimes even travels faster.<br /><br />All news sites mentioned Johnson's responsibility for Doe's death, some also referred to the <a href="http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/3295">final report of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Committee</a>, which left no doubt as to the criminal record of Prince Johnson - now an elected senator for Nimba County. None of these news sites, however, mentioned <a href="http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/106/article_1979.asp">Johnson's claim that he murdered President Thomas Sankara </a>of Burkina Faso in October 1987. Although all circumstances surrounding Sankara's death are still (2010!) not yet known, there are very strong indications pointing to the involvement of warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor, Prince Johnson, and Blaise Compaoré, once Sankara's best friend, and since October 1987 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Compaor%C3%A9">President of Burkina Faso</a>.<br /><br />Like Prince Johnson, Charles Taylor, and numerous other Liberian warlords, Blaise Compaoré has blood on his hands. Yet he has been President of this poor Sahel country for almost 23 years (1987 - present). Compaoré is far from the only African president enjoying impunity for his crimes. He is in the company of a large number of other African presidents, ranging from small-size countries such as The Gambia, Equatorial Guinea and Rwanda, to medium-sized countries such as Chad, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and big countries such as Ethiopa and Sudan - to name but the most obvious ones.<br /><br />The Gambian President, officially: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/04/omar-bashir-sudan-president-arrest">His Excellency President Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Diliu Jammeh</a>, seized power in a bloodless military coup in 1994 but is being held responsible for a number of human rights abuses in the small West African country which is completely surrounded by Senegal. Equatorial Guinea's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teodoro_Obiang_Nguema_Mbasogo">Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo </a>is in power since 1979 (!) after chasing his uncle, dictator Macias Nguema, who was executed shortly after the military coup. The fabulous oil revenues of this small country only benefit a small group of people close to the President.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.paulkagame.com/">Paul Kagamé </a>led an invasion into Rwanda where he emerged as the military strongman after the 1994 genocide. He rules the country with an iron fist. In Chad, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idriss_D%C3%A9by">Idriss Deby </a>was at first welcomed as a liberator after Chadian President <a href="http://www.hrw.org/justice/habre/press_releases.htm">Hissein Habré </a>fled to Senegal in 1990 - with millions of stolen funds - but has since disappointed many. He manages to stay in power, using the country's oil revenues, and has just celebrated his 20 years in power. <a href="http://www.statehouse.go.ug/president.php?category=The%20President">Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni </a>also came to power through the barrel of a gun - in 1985 - chasing his predecessor with a 'liberation army'. He was one of the first 'liberators' in Africa to use child soldiers to fight his opponents and was / is internationally admired for bringing stability to the 'Pearl of Africa'. Zimbabwe's President <a href="http://www.newstimeafrica.com/archives/14339">Robert Mugabe </a>(1980 - present) may not need any comments. Supported as a freedom fighter against the white minority regime of Ian Smith (1965 - 1980) he is a shame for Africa and the world. <a href="http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/gukurahundintro.htm">The atrocities in Matabeleland </a>are - relatively speaking - small crimes compared to the devastation of the economy of what was once one of Africa's most promising countries at independence.<br /><br />In East Africa, the peoples living in two big countries, Ethiopia and Sudan, are not luckier with their governments. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4545711.stm">Meles Zenawi</a>, headed a 'liberation army' like many of his colleagues, and in 1992 chased the Red Emperor of Ethiopia, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrrlZ-OxFhI">Mengistu Haile Mariam</a>, who has since lived in <a href="http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/mengistu4.13411.html">exile in Zimbabwe</a>. Like Hissein Habré of Chad, Mengistu is <a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=19354">internationally wanted</a>, but has managed to escape from justice though he was <a href="http://addis-ababa.wantedinafrica.com/news/news.php?id_n=4508">sentenced to death </a>by an Ethiopian court. Meles Zenawi, now officially Prime minister, after being President for many years, is the real ruler of Ethiopia. Does anybody know the name of the <a href="http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/facts%20about%20ethiopia/biography%20ato%20girma%20wolde%20giorgis.htm">present President of Ethiopia</a>?! Like all other African presidents mentioned here who came to power by military means - without distinction - Meles Zenawi was elected and re-elected, but increasingly used force, undemocratic means and human rights abuses to achieve his goals. Last but not least, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/04/omar-bashir-sudan-president-arrest">President Omar al-Bashr </a>of Sudan. He came to power trough a military coup in 1985 and is now wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.<br /><br />The foregoing overview focuses on sitting presidents and leaves aside former presidents who since have disappeared following multi-party elections, another <em>coup d'état</em> or civil war, or because of a natural death (apart from Habré and Mengistu). The most notorious of them are <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/701368/Sani-Abacha">Abacha</a> (Nigeria), <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm">Doe</a> (Liberia) and <a href="http://icarusfilms.com/new2000/mob.html">Mobutu</a> (Zaïre/DRC).<br /><br />Conclusion<br /><br />I do realize that Sub-Sahara Africa counts nearly 50 independent countries – 48 to be precise, or 47 when we exclude Somalia (and ignore the existence of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somaliland">Somaliland </a>and <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/4276288.stm">Puntland</a>). I have excluded from the foregoing countries where more or less recently military coups took place: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1067518.stm">Central African Republic</a>, <a href="http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/soldiers-in-guinea-bissau-coup-bid-452304.html">Guinea Bissau</a>, <a href="http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-behind-military-coup-in-guinea.html">Guinea Conakry</a>, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7544834.stm">Mauritania</a>, <a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/africanews/2010/02/22/niger-following-mauritania%E2%80%99s-blueprint-for-an-african-coup/">Niger</a>, not to speak of countries with ‘civil unrest’ or with an unresolved civil war <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/iv.html">like Ivory Coast </a>– not to speak of <a href="http://www.ploughshares.ca/libraries/monitor/mons02c.html">Sierra Leone </a>or <a href="http://www.consultancyafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=538:is-oil-really-the-antidote-to-liberias-troubled-past-&catid=57:africa-watch-discussion-papers&Itemid=263">Liberia</a>…<br /><br />What has the foregoing to do with Liberia or Prince Johnson?<br /><br />The answer consists of two words: ‘Impunity’ and ‘Democracy’.<br /><br />Do I need to say more?Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-61396094090568324382010-09-28T23:16:00.003+02:002010-10-13T07:25:14.846+02:00<em>Tuesday, September 28</em><br /> <br /><strong>Democracy or Impunity? The Long Walk To Democracy In Africa.</strong><br /> <br />Last week it was announced in Monrovia that the infamous former Liberian warlord Prince Johnson is to run for President. Nineteen years ago Prince Yormie Johnson captured then President Samuel Doe, ordered his men to torture, mutilate and execute him, while all gruesome details were videotaped. The tape, showing Johnson watching the spectacle while drinking a Budweiser beer, later found its way all over West Africa, was shown on TV all over the world and can still be seen on YouTube.<br /> <br />On September 22, James Fromoyan, the head of the independent Liberian National Electoral Committee (NEC), said that Johnson's recently created political party, the National Union for Democratic Progress (NUDP), met the constitutional requirements to compete in next year's presidential elections. Insignificant as this news may have been, it immediately made it to the major news sites (AP, AFP, BBC, VOA, etc, but not only foreign, also Liberian). Good news travels fast, but bad news sometimes even travels faster. <br /><br />All news sites mentioned Johnson's responsibility for Doe's death, some also referred to the final report of the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Committee, which left no doubt as to the criminal record of Prince Johnson - now an elected senator for Nimba County. None of these news sites, however, mentioned Johnson's claim that he murdered President Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso in October 1987. Although all circumstances surrounding Sankara's death are still (2010!) not yet known, there are very strong indications pointing to the involvement of warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor, Prince Johnson, and Blaise Compaoré, once Sankara's best friend, and since October 1987 President of Burkina Faso. <br /> <br />Like Prince Johnson, Charles Taylor, and numerous other Liberian warlords, Blaise Compaoré has blood on his hands. Yet he has been President of this poor Sahel country for almost 23 years (1987 - present). Compaoré is far from the only African president enjoying impunity for his crimes. He is in the company of a large number of other African presidents, ranging from small-size countries such as The Gambia, Equatorial Guinea and Rwanda, to medium-sized countries such as Chad, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and big countries such as Ethiopa and Sudan - to name but the most obvious ones. <br /> <br />The Gambian President, officially: His Excellency President Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Diliu Jammeh, seized power in a bloodless <em>military coup </em>in 1994 but is being held responsible for a number of human rights abuses in the small West African country which is completely surrounded by Senegal. Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is in power since 1979 (!) after chasing his uncle, dictator Macias Nguema, who was executed shortly after the <em>military coup</em>. The fabulous oil revenues of this small country only benefit a small group of people close to the President. <br /> <br />Paul Kagamé led an invasion into Rwanda where he emerged as the <em>military strongman </em>after the 1994 genocide. He rules the country with an iron fist. In Chad, Idriss Deby was at first welcomed as a <em>liberator</em> after Chadian President Hissein Habré fled to Senegal in 1990 - with millions of stolen funds - but has since disappointed many. He manages to stay in power, using the country's oil revenues, and has just celebrated his 20 years in power. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also came to power through the barrel of a gun - in 1985 - chasing his predecessor with a <em>'liberation army'</em>. He was one of the first <em>'liberators'</em> in Africa to use child soldiers to fight his opponents and was / is internationally admired for bringing stability to the 'Pearl of Africa'. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe (1980 - present) may not need any comments. Supported as a freedom fighter against the white minority regime of Ian Smith (1965 - 1980) he is a shame for Africa and the world. The atrocities in Matabeleland are even small crimes compared to the devastation of the economy of what was once one of Africa's most promising countries at independence. <br /> <br />In East Africa, the peoples living in two big countries, Ethiopia and Sudan, are not luckier with their governments. Meles Zenawi, headed a <em>'liberation army' </em>like many of his colleagues, and in 1992 chased the Red Emperor of Ethiopia, Miriam Mengistu, who has since lived in exile in Zimbabwe. Like Hissein Habré of Chad, Mengistu is internationally wanted, but has managed to escape from justice. Meles Zenawi, now officially Prime minister, after being President for many years, is the real ruler of Ethiopia. Does anybody know the name of the present President of Ethiopia?! Like all other African presidents mentioned here who came to power by <em>military means </em>- without distinction - Meles Zenawi was elected and re-elected, but increasingly used force, undemocratic means and human rights abuses to achieve his goals. Last but not least, President Omar al-Bashr of Sudan. He came to power trough a <em>military coup </em>in 1985 and is now wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. <br /> <br />The foregoing overview focuses on sitting presidents and leaves aside former presidents who since have disappeared following multi-party elections, another <em>coup d'état</em> or civil war, or because of a natural death (apart from Habré and Mengistu). The most notorious of them are Abacha (Nigeria), Doe (Liberia) and Mobutu (Zaïre/DRC).<br /><br /><strong>Conclusion</strong><br /><br />I do realize that Sub-Sahara Africa counts nearly 50 independent countries – 48 to be precise, or 47 when we exclude Somalia (and ignore the existence of Somaliland and Puntland). I have excluded from the foregoing countries where more or less recently <em>military coups </em>took place: Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Mauritania, Niger, not to speak of countries with ‘civil unrest’ or with an unresolved civil war like Ivory Coast – not to speak of Sierra Leone or Liberia…<br /><br />What has the foregoing to do with Liberia or Prince Johnson? <br /><br />The answer consists of two words: ‘Impunity’ and ‘Democracy’. <br /><br />Do I need to say more?Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-68575100159177274272010-07-24T09:58:00.003+02:002010-07-24T11:13:08.923+02:00<div><em>Monday, July 26<br /></em><br /><strong>163rd Independence Anniversary Invites To Reflect And Celebrate</strong><br /><br />On July 26, Liberia and Liberians worldwide <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfF3q7Viqko">celebrate</a> the <a href="http://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00011576.html">163rd anniversary </a>of the independence of Africa’s oldest republic. On this occasion, two questions come to my mind. First, what explains that Liberia has managed to exist for over 160 years? Secondly, is it really an achievement??<br /><br />It is quite a challenge to try to answer these questions in less than 400 words. Nevertheless, I will try it and tackle them.<br /><br />How come that Liberia has survived despite all difficulties? ‘Cause difficulties, there were many. I will neither mention all nor elaborate on them: I would already exceed my maximum 400 words. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497395104245296242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QEa-1gFQyaG24iMtoWd-Kmkp6Zua-TjaHFF5E9Bturkr3aGjp4BbevF02T1HvkcnloGhniz3DkfAwhHkKqakmxQ_tm5JjTZHZctrI82VcrI8blLxb2V6GzS6kBERLtAVcFd2ZeO67EjG/s200/PepperGrainCoast.jpg" />The settler population that created the republic <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/ColonizationSociety.htm">did not come voluntary </a>to the shores of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepper_Coast">Pepper or Grain Coast</a>, definitely not all of them. Further, they had to start from scratch: there was nothing, all modern institutions a.s.o. had to be built. Moreover, the immigrants alienated the peoples living on the Pepper Coast by imposing their laws while at the same time excluding them from the benefits of these laws. Not surprisingly, after 133 years, the rule of the Americo-Liberians, as they preferred to call themselves, was <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm">violently overthrown</a>. The chaos that followed led to an even more violent struggle for power which lasted some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberian_Civil_War">14 years</a>. Since then, Liberia re-started from scratch.<br /><br />In my opinion, there are two major explanations for Liberia’s survival despite all these difficulties. First and foremost I must mention the US protection and support. Without the support of the <a href="http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam002.html">American Colonization Society (ACS) </a>in the 19th century and the US Government in the 20th century, for reasons of the <a href="http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/suez.htm">Cold War</a>, the Lone Star Republic would not have survived. It is not a coincidence that the worst part of Liberia’s contemporary history started after <a href="http://www.nebraskastudies.org/1000/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/1000/stories/1001_0140.html">the end of the Cold War</a>.<br /><br />Secondly, the successive Liberian governments and foreign investors connived in the exploitation of the rich natural resources of the country. Under this arrangement – called the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/OpenDoorPolicy.htm">Open Door Policy </a>– the governing elite used a portion of the proceeds of the economic development which took place – albeit in enclave sectors – to stay in power and live a comfortable life. The foreign investors were allowed to take the largest share of the cake. The foregoing is important since it contains important lessons for the future.<br /><br />Then the second question. How much of an achievement is it to have existed for over 160 years?<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497397501659707298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSfvHws2CQD94xVb5ui0TTE5W_ZGxuuVfjAB4haNvxXVWXh3Ns-uUiVr5dyMqwYduZliDREhyphenhyphenS_UjyttfOOs5S3ua6DQ4F5GNfR_JniMZlZ56CR7y123XumuJzIBwMTbxhDywtOc9uBD7/s200/Liberia3.jpg" />According to most sources the world nowadays counts <a href="http://geography.about.com/cs/countries/a/numbercountries.htm">195 independent countries</a> leaving important aspects of constitutional law here aside. Only about a quarter of these 195 countries exists for more than a century.<br /><br />In Africa there are three ‘old’ countries: The oldest one is <a href="http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/33/index-d.html">Ethiopia</a>, before the 20th c. called Abyssynia. The second oldest is Liberia. The third is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_South_Africa">Republic of South Africa </a>(officially the ‘Union of South Africa’) – besides, another country marked by immigration and ethnic conflict (!). The Republic of South Africa emerged in the early years of the 20th c. on the ashes of the defeated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_South_Africa#The_Boer_republics">Boer Republics </a>of which Transvaal (or South African Republic) and Orange Free State were the most important ones.<br /><br />Throughout history <a href="http://geography.about.com/od/politicalgeography/a/missingcountry.htm">many countries split, merged, changed their names or were swept from the world map as a result of war</a>. E.g. the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Europe, the Ottoman Empire (aka the Turkish Empire) and, more recent, the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR).<br /><br />‘Independent’ African countries that have disappeared are the Boer Republics in Southern Africa, created in the last quarter of the 19th century, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantustan">Bantustans</a> (aka Black African homelands) in particular <a title="Transkei" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transkei">Transkei</a>, <a title="Bophuthatswana" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bophuthatswana">Bophuthatswana</a>, <a title="Venda" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venda">Venda</a>, and <a title="Ciskei" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciskei">Ciskei</a> (the so-called TBVC states) created by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa_under_apartheid">Apartheid regime </a>but which did not survive the fall of ‘Apartheid’.<br /><br />Consequently, many countries no longer exist.<br /><br />In light of the foregoing there is reason to celebrate in Liberia 'July 26'. The answer to my second question is: ‘Yes, it <em>is</em> an achievement to have survived.’<br /><br />But now, at the end of my reflections, a third question emerges: <em>What else did Liberia achieve?</em><br /><br />No doubt, a painful question. We will leave it until after the party.<br /><br />I wish all Liberians a wonderful July 26!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/NationalAnthemOfLiberia.htm">All Hail, Liberia, Hail!</a> Click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfF3q7Viqko">here</a> for the music.</div>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-23587429207545728392010-07-10T17:52:00.010+02:002010-07-11T10:26:11.768+02:00<em>Saturday, July 10<br /></em><br /><strong>Is debt relief the solution?<br /></strong><br />When in 1926 Firestone gained control over Liberia’s public finance through a new - and according to some unnecessary - US $ 5 million loan which replaced all existing foreign loans of Liberia, there was a public outcry. Some people were outraged. Firestone wanted some control over the Liberian Government to protect its interests which consisted of what later proved to be a historic concession agreement for the production of natural rubber. <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/1926FirestoneCA.htm">The loan put the country virtually under the control of Americans and administrators appointed by people on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.</a> The Liberian Government was even forbidden to contract new loans without the written consent of Firestone!<br /><br />Although there are many differences between this famous Firestone Loan and the debt relief Liberia <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/CAR062910A.htm">recently obtained</a>, there also are important similarities and, what is even more important, lessons to be learned. Because that’s ultimately the usefulness of history: to learn from it in order to improve present and future actions.<br /><br />Let there be no misunderstanding about my joy for this historic debt write-off. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her team are to be congratulated with this achievement. <a href="http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:22632608~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html">The US $ 4.6 billion (!) debt relief which Liberia thus obtained from multilateral, bilateral and commercial creditors </a>erases a huge debt stock which contributed to discourage foreign and domestic investors to invest in the country and would have captured an important portion of public expenditures in order to service it – <em>if </em>the Liberian Government would have serviced its debt, which it did not do.<br /><br />Since the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm">1980 <em>coup d’état</em></a>, followed by the <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/liberia.htm">14-year civil war</a>, none of the loans Liberia owed to foreign creditors were serviced, and thus penalties and arrears (interest payments and amortization of loans) grew every year. This had resulted in a staggering US $ 4.9 billion debt when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president. As President Sirleaf said in a <a href="http://www.analystliberia.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=183:ellen-expresses-satisfaction-over-debt-relief&catid=39:politics&Itemid=93">nation-wide address</a> informing the Liberian population of the debt cancellation: <em>‘Our budget for 2009-2010 is US $ 350 million. To settle that US 4.9 billion debt, we would have had to pay our creditors our entire budget for 28 years!’</em><br /><br />It all began in 2008. In March of that year, after two years in office, President Sirleaf and (then) Finance Minister Antoinette Sayeh had succeeded in normalizing relations with the <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm">International Monetary Fund (IMF)</a> and the <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/">World Bank</a>. Being former World Bank officials, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Antoinette Sayeh are on good terms with the Bretton Woods Institutions and their staff. See my <a href="http://liberianperspectives.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00%2B01%3A00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00%2B01%3A00&max-results=20">March 19, 2008 </a>posting on this blog. I then announced that HIPC and PRSP would become household words in Liberia. HIPC stands for <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/hipc.htm">Heavily-Indebted Poor Country</a>. Liberia joined this club of now 29 poor and heavily indebted countries in 2008, when it reached the so-called <em>decision point</em> (see the previous link, <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/hipc.htm">but scroll</a>), the first step towards a more comprehensive debt relief. Shortly after Liberia became a so-called HIPC-country, <a href="http://blog-imfdirect.imf.org/bloggers/antoinette-sayeh/">Antoinette Sayeh</a> was appointed Director of the IMF’s African Department, in May 2008, and returned to Washington DC where she had been living for 17 years, working with the World Bank, before joining Sirleaf’s administration in 2006. Also in 2008, the Sirleaf Administration submitted a <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2008/cr08219.pdf">Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)</a> to the IMF and World Bank, one of the many conditions for further debt relief. Liberia worked hard to meet the other conditions for a comprehensive debt relief agreement and to reach the so-called <em>completion point</em> (see <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/hipc.htm">this link </a>and scroll). These requirements are very technical, interested readers are referred to the HIPC site just mentioned.<br /><br />Finance and Planning Ministers Augustine K. Ngafuan and Amara Konneh, who led Liberia’s HIPC delegation to Washington DC, returned to Liberia on June 29, announcing that Liberia had reached the <em>HPIC completion point</em>, thus obtaining the green light from World Bank and IMF for a US $ 4.6 billion debt cancellation. One of the conditions they noted was that now Liberia is only allowed to borrow for development projects. Another condition prescribed that loans should not exceed 2% of the country’s GDP which means US $ 40 million annually. Once more Liberia is placed under guardianship. This time not of the US overnment or a US company, but of the Bretton Woods Institutions.<br /><br />President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf immediately expressed great satisfaction over the debt relief in a nation-wide address, <a href="http://www.theliberianjournal.com/index.php?st=news&sbst=details&rid=1554&comesOfTheHome=1">comparing it with another Independence Day </a>for Liberia. <a href="http://news.scotsman.com/world/Antoinette-Sayeh-Liberia-has-a.6399801.jp">Antoinette Sayeh said that</a> Liberia now has a real chance to develop with the debt burden lifted. <a href="http://www.analystliberia.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=247:gaywea-advises-government&catid=42:rokstories&Itemid=94">Dr. Toga McIntosh Gaewea</a>, former Liberian Finance minister and one of the brains behind the PRSP - now World Bank executive in Washington DC - praised the commitment of the Sirleaf administration to pro poor growth, macroeconomic stability, fiscal and monetary prudence and sustainable development through the PRSP and other development frameworks.<br /><br />It is important to mention that one of the weakest points in the performance of the Sirleaf Administration refers to public finance management. Liberia did not fully meet the standards set by IMF and World Bank. In popular terms, the management of the public sector still suffers from mismanagment, inefficiency and corruption. However, this has not prevented the EU to immdiately grant budgetary support to the Government of Liberia to the tune of <a href="http://www.theinformer-lr.com/oneadmin/newspublish/samplenewspublish.php?news_id=5512&start=0&category_id=0&parent_id=0&arcyear=&arcmonth">US $ 8.5 million</a>. In light of the budgetary deficit Liberia is facing due to the worldwide economic crisis, a present from heaven.<br /><br />Liberia’s economic history is one of relying on foreign capital, be it direct foreign investments or foreign loans. Notably the latter proved to do more harm than good. It started with the 1871 loan which led to the country’s first coup d’état and the death of <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/EJRoye.htm">President Edward Roye</a>, followed by the loans of <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/BarclayArthur.htm">1906 and 1912</a>, the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/KingResignation.htm">infamous 1926 Firestone Loan</a>, and many more. Will the present step, erasing once more all of its debts, enable Liberia to definitely leave its ugly past of notorious borrower failing to meet its obligations?<br /><br />I will not conceal that I have mixed feelings with respect to this as well as other debt relief deals, notably since it concerns countries which are well endowed with natural resources and where outright thievery and corruption combined with mismanagement are among the root causes of the inability to service the debt incurred. Moreover, the economic potential of these countries, rich in minerals, and a huge potential in agricutural development, should enable them to finance their own development. In the same week that Liberia reached the HIPC completion point another Sub-Saharan African country, also well endowed with natural resources, reached the HIPC completion point. On the eve of the 50th anniversary of its independence, the Democratic Republic of Congo ('Congo-Kinshasa') <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/CAR070110A.htm">reached the HIPC completion point</a>. This paved the way for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Club">Paris Club </a>to cancel more than US$ 13 billion.<br /><br />These amounts always puzzle me. <strong>US $ 4.600.000.000,00</strong> That is what it is. Four thousand six hundred million American dollars. I bet nobody reading this blog can explain me how much this really is. Take one million for you - and one for me :-) and we still have an amount left of US $ 4.598.000.000,00 - unbelievable.<br /><br />Comparing the two countries,DRC and Liberia, I will immediately admit that I am far more optimistic about Liberia’s future and prospects than those of the DRC. There are many reasons for it, one of the most important being the commitment of the country's leader.<br /><br />Notwithstanding this difference, Liberia is far from leaving its ugly past behind. There still are many challenges. The country will need to regain the confidence of foreign investors – despite some recent successes in the <a href="http://www.landcoalition.org/cpl-blog/?p=1938">agricultural</a> and <a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/business/article503897.ece/BHP-Billiton-signs-Liberia-ore-deal">mining sectors</a>. Liberia will have to stop borrowing for unproductive purposes. There are many, many more challenges.<br /><br />Three priorities impose themselves. Failing to realize them will mean that the lessons of the infamous 1926 Firestone loan and the recent debt cancellation have not been learned. The proceeds of the infamous 1926 Firestone loan were not used for productive activities but were squandered. The HIPC debt relief of 2010 will also not benefit the people of Liberia unless the following three priorities will be rigorously pursued: 1) eradicate corruption, 2) improve infrastructure and 3) enhance agriculture.<br /><br />Therefore, the answer to my question: 'Is debt relief a solution?' is an outright <strong>'NO'</strong>. Debt relief is no panacea for Liberia's problems, as also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Nyumah_Boakai">Vice President Boakai </a>and <a href="http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Butty-Liberia-Finance-Minister-Ngaufuan-02july10-97649449.html">Finance Minister Ngaufuan </a>said. But it represents an opportunity that should not be missed.<br /><br />The penalty to miss it is misery and poverty. The Liberian people deserves better. It all depends on the leaders. Next year, presidental and legislative elections will be held. Who will be the new leader(s)? The country cannot afford missteps.Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-45271820424296774092010-06-27T13:31:00.004+02:002010-06-27T14:13:05.384+02:00<div><em>Sunday, June 27<br /></em><br /><strong>THINK Liberia – Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness, a new web site<br /><br /></strong>Earlier this month a new web site and related blog was added to the many sites and blogs devoted to Liberia and Liberians. On June 7, <a href="http://www.thinkliberia.com/">http://www.thinkliberia.com/</a> was launched.<br /><br />THINK Liberia or 'Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness' is a faith-based, Liberian, non-governmental organization established seven years ago, in 2003 - when the civil war was still raging - , a few months before the resignation of <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/TaylorCharles/index.htm">President Charles Taylor</a>. A humanitarian NGO, ThinkLiberia focuses on the rights and well-being of women and children, notably ‘war wives’ of fighting forces, other victims of sexual violence, and child mothers.<br /><br />Since 2003, ThinkLiberia has provided the following services:<br /><br />* Safe homes where victims of sexual violence are given psychological support;<br />* Rehabilitation homes in Paynesville/Monrovia and Buchanan;<br />* A Learning Enrichment Program where children are tutored;<br />* A Participatory Action Research Program focusing the reinteration of girl mothers;<br /><br />Recently, the Director of THINK in Liberia, <a href="http://www.international.umn.edu/awards/leader/2010/schaak.php">Rosana Schaack, was one of the recipients for the Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals </a>by the University of Minnesota. Schaack was a student at the university (Humphry Institute of Public Affairs, <a href="http://www.hhh.umn.edu/ifp/alumni/08_09.html">Humphry Fellow 2008-2009</a>).<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 155px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487424873697414050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcn9ZeJ1oHBdlD7SEgangfLpK4zvfF891cSR96KMhUUHV1myb_9eE48Kw4HpkXJ35xmGg4XlQeGje1YfaqPFyA6tMYpmBcUKBhsAY0vlERY3yUwB5Cw0R4ELgbFG-dlDqv3Gf2PJ2ntGs/s200/RosanaSchaack_001.jpg" />The Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals is a university-wide award for alumni, former students, and friends of the university who have distinguished themselves in their post-university work as leaders in their professional careers. The selection committee for the Award cited Rosana Schaack’s role as a public servant, her work to empower the poorest of the poor, and her mission to bring hope to those he need it most. The committee lauded her passionate voice for justice for the young woman and children of emerging Liberia and her total involvement in the fight against gender-based violence.<br /><br />Both <a href="http://www.thinkliberia.com/">web site </a>and <a href="http://www.thinkliberia.com/blog/">blog</a> are worth visiting, they merit to be added to your favorites. People like Rosana Schaack and her co-workers deserve our admiration and support, they are the builders of a new Liberia on the ruins of the old Liberia.<br /><br />The plight of the victims of sexual violence should be a concern of us all. Whereas the victims need to be catered for, civil society, politicians and judges in particular should strive to bring to justice not only those responsible for these criminal and heinous acts, but also those responsible for creating an environment of lawlessness making these atrocities possible.<br /><br /><strong>‘Let Justice Be Done To All’ (official Liberian motto ). </strong></div>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-86285655067921376332010-05-31T23:35:00.005+02:002010-06-01T08:54:36.090+02:00<em>Monday, May 31</em><br /><br /><strong>TPS and money transfer</strong><br /><br />The meeting between the President of perhaps the most powerful nation in the world and the President of maybe one of the weakest states on earth was historic.<br /><br />On May 27, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was received by President Barrack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House. <a href="http://liberiaandfriends.blogspot.com/">Other bloggers </a>have already commented on this historic meeting. Therefore, I will focus on a particular aspect of their conversation.<br /><br />President Obama did not hide his admiration for Africa’s first democratically elected woman-president when he publicly said that he had been an extraordinary admirer of her work for many years. President Sirleaf welcomed the US leader's commendation on behalf of the Liberian people and noted that what President Obama observed about Liberia would not have been possible without the assistance of the United States. Notably, she thanked the US government for allowing some 14,000 Liberians currently living in the US on Temporary Protective Status or TPS and the Obama administration for a recent action taken to extend the delayed enforced departure for another year.<br /><br />At the height of the First Liberian civil war (1989 – 1997), the government of the United States extended ‘<em>temporary protection status</em>’ to all Liberians who could get to the USA, and 14,000 of them took advantage of that humanitarian offer. Temporary protection status is an immigration status somewhere between political asylum and refugee status. Administered by the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, it is extended to nationals of countries facing civil unrest or natural disaster.<br /><br />How many Liberians are living outside Liberia?? Nobody knows, that’s for sure. Who dares to guess?<br /><br />Official figures are by definition unreliable figures. My estimate is that at least 30,000 Liberians are living outside Liberia, half of them in the USA. The others are living in Europe or Africa. They represent at least one percent of the Liberian population, which may not be an impressive figure. However, though I have no firm figures at hand, I bet that their average educational level is above Liberia’s average. This means that the relative importance of the total number of Liberian abroad supersedes its actual number.<br /><br />This phenomenon is not limited to Liberians. There are many Sudanese, Ethiopian and Eritrean people, varying from medical doctors to taxi drivers, working in the New England States and in the Washington DC area. The same is true for Europe. To just give one example: it is being estimated that about 1.5 million Nigerians are living outside Nigeria, legally or illegally. This number represents one percent of the most populated country in Sub-Saharan Africa: one out of every five black Africans is Nigerian. Interestingly, together they remitted home <a href="http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-349109.64.html">US $ 10 billion </a>in 2009, according to the World Bank.<br /><br />So, what could be the contribution of Liberians living outside Liberia to the survival of their relatives and friends, to the development of the Liberian economy, to the sustainability of the nation, to the future of their country?<br /><br />If anybody knows the answer, please come forward. It could well be that Liberians abroad send, on an annual basis, remittances with an overall value of approximately US $ 30 million to Liberia, which represents about 10 percent of the National Budget. Not a huge amount, but for an unknown number of Liberians it may be the difference between life and death, it may pay for medicine or food which otherwise would not have been bought, or provide the small working capital for a market transaction or a small business.Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-67950369346860523712010-04-21T00:45:00.008+02:002010-04-21T21:54:56.317+02:00<em>Tuesday, April 20</em><br /><br /><strong>Gus Kouwenhoven on trial again – Dutch Supreme Court orders</strong><br /><br />Two years ago – on March 10, 2008 - I commented on the acquittal of Gus Kouwenhoven, also known as <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/TaylorCharles/KouwenhovenGus.htm">Guus van Kouwenhoven</a>, a Dutch timber trader and business partner of Charles Taylor, accused of illegal arms trade for his business partner, and I lauded the Dutch judiciary system – see my March 10, 2008 blog posting. Today I repeat my praise. I just heard the news that the Supreme Court of the Netherlands has <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5je3d4Ps_8lLaI8MVi-nnB4wC8AeQD9F6P0TO3">overturned the acquittal of Kouwenhoven </a>and ordered a new appeal hearing. The Dutch Supreme Court said that <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8633908.stm">appeals judges had been wrong to reject a prosecution request to hear two anonymous witnesses</a>. Consequently, Mr. Gus, as he is known in Liberia, will have to stand trial again. Meanwhile he remains a free man.<br /><br /><strong><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 160px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462361699014868210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8KEW6gEBe3KesRBdICYpJh25cuaVNtn9UyWY03dxiFYA6YrSwBmTCFe2oEbw391x9uMQn5RoHred6mxoEsJgv9jf5FMZC9VIpyOO7MmlW1Jbc29Q51RUaTP8eW52a9VxHIMjv26L8R-v/s200/guuskouwenhoven.jpg" />‘Mister Gus’<br /></strong><br />The Dutch businessman Gus Kouwenhoven first came to Liberia in the late 1980s after <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5055442.stm">shady deals in the USA</a> where he had been convicted and sentenced to two years jail. In Liberia he became General Manager of the famous Hotel Africa, near Monrovia, later he went into the logging business and became Chairman of the Malaysian Oriental Timber Company, one of the largest timber companies in the country, and Managing Director of the Royal Timber Company. He also was a member of the Board of the Forestry Development Authority, a Liberian governmental institution mandated to regulate and supervise forest exploitation and timber production in the country.<br /><br />In 2000, it was reported that Gus Kouwenhoven belonged to Taylor’s <em>‘inner circle’</em> and in the UN’s Expert Panel Report on Sierra Leone (2000) he was accused of active involvement in arms smuggling. He subsequently was hit by an <a href="http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/Liberia2/470e.pdf">UN travel ban </a>though this did not prevent him from seeking refuge in Congo. In March 2005 he was arrested in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where he had travelled to visit his family. <a href="http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/mr-gus-and-his-dealings-liberia">In 2006</a>, the District Court of The Hague sentenced Gus Kouwenhoven to 8 years in prison for illegal arms trade, but on March 10, 2008 the Dutch Court of Appeal overturned the 2006 conviction and <a href="http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/eCache/DEF/6/412.html">acquitted Kouwenhoven </a>of all accusations including allegations that he had participated in war crimes in Liberia.<br /><br /><strong>The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL)</strong><br /><br />In December 2009 one of Charles Taylor’s <a href="http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/scsl-taylor’s-secret-bank-account-revealed">secret bank accounts was revealed </a>by Prosecutor Nicholas Koumjian during the cross-examination of Charles Taylor at the <a href="http://www.sc-sl.org/">SCSL</a> in The Hague. Nicholas Koumjian ended the last hearing of the year with a sensational piece of evidence: a hitherto unseen statement from a <em>personal</em> bank account opened by Taylor in December 1999. Even more sensational was Taylor’s admission that it was a <em>“covert account opened up by the Government of Liberia during this period, to fight our war”</em>. According to the evidence two major deposits were made in 2000: US $ 2 million from Natura Holdings, owned by Gus Kouwenhoven, and US $ 3.5 million from the Taiwanese embassy in Monrovia. Taylor admitted that the money was used to buy arms.<br /><br />Taylor’s statement seemingly contradicts previous statements by Kouwenhoven denying <a href="http://asso-sherpa.org/docs/PUBLICATIONS/CLIMAT_FORETS/BOIS_ILLEGAL/Briefing_Paper_eng.pdf">accusations</a> that money from his company or companies was ever used to buy arms. The UN Expert Panel Report of 2000 had already linked him to arms purchases from the notorious arms dealer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Bout">Victor Bout</a>, an allegation that was also rejected by mister Kouwenhoven.<br /><br />Oscar Wilde in his <em>The Importance of Being Earnest</em> already acknowledged that <em>‘The truth is rarely pure and never simple’</em>.<br /><br />I wish the Dutch judges all the wisdom they need to arrive at the right conclusion and a fair judgement that does justice to the interests of all victims of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Liberian_Civil_War">Second Liberian Civil War (1999 - 2003)</a>.Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-61922443088585592142010-04-11T09:55:00.009+02:002010-04-12T22:25:13.070+02:00<em>Sunday, April 11</em><br /><br /><strong>April 12, 1980 – 2010</strong><br /><br />I can’t help but think of April 12, 1980 when the anniversary of Samuel Doe’s bloody <em>coup d’état</em> approaches. I happened to be in Monrovia on that historic day, en route to <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uv.html">Burkina Faso</a>, then still called Upper Volta, where I was to witness three more <em>coup d’états</em> of which <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sankara">Thomas Sankara</a>’s seizure of power was the most impressive.<br /><br /><strong>1980 – 2010</strong>. Liberia underwent more changes in the past thirty years than in the century before. Doe’s People’s Redemption Council marked a U-turn in the history of Africa oldest Republic where the roots of the recent turmoil had been developing <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/">since 1822</a>. In that year the first freed slaves and free-born blacks set foot here on West African soil. Despised and unwanted in the land where their forefathers had been brought under coercion, they established a Republic based on the model of the land where they had been born and had grown up. And like the slave masters had treated them, they treated the aboriginal population they met on what used to be called the Pepper Coast.<br /><br /><strong>1980 – 2010</strong>. In these thirty years Liberia had one military <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/SamuelKDoe.htm">dictator-president</a> who was the country’s first President of tribal origin, six Interim Presidents among whom <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Perry">Africa’s first female Head of State</a>, one elected <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/charles_taylor.htm">warlord-president </a>who was forced to step down, one <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3140063.stm">Vice President</a> who after becoming President had the shortest Administration in the country’s history - three months. He was succeeded by a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3169873.stm">‘caretaker’-not called President</a> who in his turn was succeeded by <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/JohnsonSirleaf/index.htm">Africa’s first elected female Head of State</a>. Compare that with the previous 130 years which had known only <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/Presidents.htm#chronological">23 presidents</a>, 12 of them born in the USA or the Caribbean, 11 born in Liberia, among whom the country’s longest serving <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/William%20Tubman.htm">President, 27 years</a>.<br /><br /><strong>1980 – 2010</strong>. The people of Liberia suffered from two civil wars which cost over 200,000 people their lives. Many more suffered, were wounded, and remained traumatized after the wars had ended. In the early years of the third millennium, Africa’s oldest republic had gained the reputation of a <em>‘failed ‘state’</em>, a conclusion which I personally do not share, for various reasons.<br />But undoubtedly true is that when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took over, in 2006, the modern economy was in ruins, the foreign investors had left, like most of the political and intellectual elite, and the people were poorer and more divided as ever. The latest census revealed that the total population now numbers more than three million, not much for a country well endowed with natural resources, but too large in view of the actual National Budget of about US $ 350 million. Compare that with total public expenditures thirty years earlier, which amounted to US $ 324 million, in 1979, and it may be difficult not to despair looking at this budgetary standstill.<br /><br />However, I do not share this feeling of hopelessness, I also disagree with the qualification <em>‘failed state’</em>. Yet I am puzzled how it can be possible that people inflict upon other people the cruelties which we have seen in Liberia. Though Liberia is not the only country in the world where people underwent these sufferings. What to think of the United States of America where a major civil war raged between 1861 and 1865, divided the country, and costs half a million people their lives? By the way, isn’t it an ironic coincidence that the US civil war started on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War">April 12</a>?<br /><br />Who would have qualified the USA in 1865, when the civil war ended, as a <em>‘failed state’</em>? And what about Europe? There may be no other continent where so many wars raged, yet most European countries rank among the richest in the world nowadays. And look at Asia, take the example of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam">Vietnam</a>. This country was virtually destroyed by the Americans in the 1970s. Nowadays it is one of the emerging Asian economies, with Indonesia, India and China.<br /><br />Liberia, once Africa’s leading iron ore exporter and the third largest iron ore exporter in the world, with many other precious minerals, with the largest mercantile fleet in the world and the world's largest rubber plantation within its borders, has the economic potential to recover from the wars and their aftermath. Liberia has many strong and intellectual people, the organization of the civil wars proofs it, as contradictory as this may sound. Both within and outside the national territory there are many hard working, capable and motivated people who in good combination with the nation’s natural wealth can turn the ‘Land of Liberty’, the previous ‘Pepper Coast’, into a small paradise where people harmoniously live together. The recipe? It is not as difficult as people tend to think. Good policies, in combination with investments in people, infrastructure and institutions have proven to be the road to take, leading to economic growth, development and prosperity.<br /><br />Liberia can realize another U-turn, I am absolutely sure. The economic changes which the country underwent in the 1950 – 1980 period are proof of that – despite the ravages of the last 30 years. Government revenues rose from less than US $ 4 million (!) in 1950 to US $ 200 million in 1980. The National Product (GDP) was roughly some US $ 35 million in 1950, at the end of the 1970s it had grown to US $ 750 million. This was considered a phenomenal performance in those days despite the criticism and the conviction of many that Liberia could have done better had it managed better its economy and controlled more some foreign investors.<br /><br />Liberia and Liberians should learn from the past if the next U-turn is to be realized. <em>Yes, it can!</em>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-58941295561963342462010-04-04T21:36:00.008+02:002010-04-12T21:03:19.366+02:00<em>Sunday, April 4</em><br /><br /><strong>Ritualistic Murders, Voodoo and the Rule of Law<br /></strong><br />Eleven days ago, March 24, I wrote about ritual killings in Lofa County, Liberia, as well as in a number of other countries and the involvement of high ranking people, politicians and rich businessmen. Two days later a high profile ritual murder case was unearthed in Maryland County, involving several high-ranking government officials.<br /><br />Former Interior Minister and Maryland Superintendent under previous Administrations, and at the moment of his arrest Ambassador-at-Large appointed by President Sirleaf, Dan Morias, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and former Maryland County Attorney Cllr Fulton Yancy, together with at least eight other persons, were arrested following a string of ritual murders. They are now in custody in the county capital’s jail, according to the Harper police <em>'for protective reasons’</em>. <a href="http://www.liberiawebs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2823:gboyo-activity-maryland-dev-supt-nabbed-&catid=121:crime&Itemid=366">Some sources </a>even report the arrest of as many as nineteen suspected ritual killers.<br /><br />The circumstances surrounding their arrests caused President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to <a href="http://www.unfreemedia.com/africa/2010/03/liberian-officials-arrested-for-ritual-killing-of-child.html">warn against voodoo justice</a> and raise many questions about the rule of law in Liberia.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_County">Maryland County</a> is <a href="http://www.theperspective.org/2005/jan/ritualistickillings.html">notorious</a> for its history of ritualistic killings, one of the most sensational being the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/MarylandRitualMurders04.htm">ritual killing of Moses Tweh in 1977</a> for which ultimately seven persons were condemned and <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/MarylandRitualMurders09.htm">publicly executed</a>, among whom a member of the House of Representatives, <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/MarylandRitualMurders05.htm">Allen Yancy</a>, older brother of Fulton Yancy, and Maryland Superintendent James Anderson, son of the Chairman of the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/RitualKillingsSecondHalf20thE.htm">True Whig Party</a>, in those days the only legalized political party. Not surprisingly, Marylanders’ past of ritual killings and fears resurfaces, as reported by <a href="http://www.newdemocratnews.com/story.php?record_id=1922&sub=28">Tom Kamara </a>in The New Democrat Online. Besides, the famous Liberian journalist presents a chilling report on the interrogation techniques (read: <a href="http://www.newdemocratnews.com/story.php?record_id=1922&sub=28">torture</a>) of the Liberian police in the Moses Tweh murder case.<br /><br />The list of disappeared and ritually murdered people in Maryland County is long, but nobody knows how long. When the Minister of Justice, Christiana Tah, visited the County in the wake of the recent arrests she met with citizens who told her that between 1999 and 2010, 16 people had been reported missing and are believed to be victims of ritualistic killings. The minister acknowledged <em><a href="http://www.newdemocratnews.com/story.php?record_id=1924&sub=14">‘that there are still lots of unresolved cases of this nature.’</a></em> Meanwhile Government has deployed additional and more police officers to Maryland to ensure security in the area.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/5405">Cllr Fulton Yancy </a>is accused of killing the 7-month pregnant Tomo Allison and pulling the unborn child out, killing the baby too. <a href="http://www.newdemocratnews.com/story.php?record_id=1927&sub=14">The circumstances surrounding the discovery of evidence </a>in his home are astonishing. The Liberia National Police used the services of a witch doctor or voodoo priest who reportedly went into Mr Yancy’s house and with the ‘aid of a young girl’ discovered two bottles of blood and human parts, and the intestines of the unborn child. The woman and child were reportedly killed four months ago. The use of traditional doctors or voodoo priests to solve crimes is not new. President Samuel Doe hired a Kissi voodoo high priest Contabu who was even officially employed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It has been reported that citizens of Bong County are now demanding that traditional priests are employed to solve ritualistic murders in their county.<br /><br />The Harper Police handling of the ritualistic case is increasingly <a href="http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/5510">being criticized</a>, both by the media and individuals like Dr. James Elliot, a Liberian pathologist based in the USA. Also President Sirleaf was very outspoken. She was closely involved in the arrests and investigation. She warned local people in Maryland against ‘<a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/b3eb0b948a2168b603c61baa8025bd1e.htm">sassywood</a>’ or voodoo justice.<br /><br />Cllr Fulton Yancy denies any involvement in the ritual murder of Tomo Allison, her unborn baby and others. So does the other top official arrested, Dan Morias. The latter accused unnamed Liberians of attempting to destroy his ambitions to become a Senator in the forthcoming elections of 2011.<br /><br />Dan Morias is not an unknown in Liberian politics. The former Superintendent of Maryland County and Interior Minister was a close ally of <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/charles_taylor.htm">warlord-president Charles Taylor </a>and also on good terms with Taylor’s successor <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3169873.stm">Guyde Bryant </a>– who hails from Maryland County - and since he was nominated Special Envoy by President Sirleaf I assume that Morias also enjoys (enjoyed??) President Sirleaf’s confidence.<br /><br />I remember that in 2008 Morias' name was mentioned at a <a href="https://www.trcofliberia.org/news-1/press-releases/who-massacred-369-civilians-in-glaro-survivors-recount-experiences-at-trc-hearing">TRC hearing</a>. Survivors recounted before the Truth and Reconciliation Committee the massacre of 369 civilians in 2003. In that year, militiamen loyal to Charles Taylor rounded up 369 inhabitants of Glaro and massacred them at various locations in River Gee County, which borders Maryland County. The killings, witnesses said, were executed by fighters of the ‘Mountain Lions Brigade’ under the supervision of former Maryland County Superintendent Morias and General William Sumo.<br /><br />The definition of rule of law is a complicated issue and I will not attempt to provide one here. Nevertheless, a basic principle is that ‘Nobody is guilty unless found guilty after a fair trial.’ But who is meanwhile protecting ordinary people - men, women, children, babies even unborn -their basic human rights, in particular their right to freedom of fear?<br /><br />Not only in Liberia this basic question remains increasingly unanswered, also in <a href="http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=50&a=445952">Uganda</a> and <a href="http://www.sundaytribune.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20100322193306395C780887">South Africa</a>, to name but two countries where new cases of ritual killings continue to emerge, criminals get away with their heinous crimes, and impunity is rather common than exception.<br /><br />I am afraid the last statement of my March 24 posting is more valid than ever.Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-29048582521030407302010-03-24T01:46:00.003+01:002010-03-24T08:11:36.387+01:00<em>Wednesday, March 24</em><br /><br /><strong>Ritual killings. Will it ever stop?!</strong><br /><br />I was struck by a recent article: <em>‘Concerns of ritualistic killings: Sirleaf meets with citizens’</em><br /><br />On March 18, more than one hundred inhabitants of Zorzor District, Lofa County, residing in Zorzor and Monrovia, staged a peaceful demonstration in the capital following a string of ritual murders in Zorzor, Lofa County, in the northwest of the country. Afterwards, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf met with a number of them who offered her a petition. The statement was signed by paramount and clan chiefs representing clans in Bluyeama, Gizima, and Zieama. In their petition they expressed concern that the Government’s response to the recent incidents and <a href="http://www.theliberianjournal.com/index.php?st=news&sbst=details&rid=1341&comesOfTheHome=1">fighting in Lofa County </a>was overshadowing their concerns of ritualistic killings in the county.<br /><br />In February, four people had been killed in Konia, Zorzor and Voinjama, the county capital in what some people say was a conflict between Christians and Muslims while others argue it was an escalated dispute over land. Much has been said and <a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/03/09/liberia-confusion-about-the-cause-of-violence-in-lofa-county/">written</a> about this. However, the representatives of Zorzor District who met with President Sirleaf were more worried about an age-old problem everybody knows and fears in Liberia. They spoke of three recent cases of ritualistic murders which have remained unsolved.<br /><br />When reading the <a href="http://runningafrica.com/news-03202010Ritualistic-Killings.html">article</a>, I almost could not believe my eyes. Nevertheless, I have no reason not to believe it. Ritual killings are - I dare to say - common in Liberia. Ritual murders are a form of <em>juju</em>, as sorcery is called in Liberia and a number of other West African countries. In Liberia, everybody is afraid of <em>‘heart men’</em>. Centuries old traditional practices included ritual human sacrifice and sometimes even cannibalism. But from traditional practice it has turned into an important part of the <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/liberia.htm">political culture</a>. Nowadays, ritual murders are also committed by ‘ordinary’ criminals who act on behalf of politicians and businessmen who want more power and wealth.<br /><br />The list of victims is long and from <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/RitualKillingsIII.htm">everywhere</a>: the southeast - Maryland County is notoriously known for it - the north, Nimba County, and as the people from Zorzor demonstrated, the northwest of the country, but also in the nation’s capital ritual murders occur. Many people live in constant fear. And not only in Liberia.<br /><br />In <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/NotOnlyInLiberia_Nigeria.htm">Nigeria</a>, every year, hundreds of children, men and women lose their lives to ritual murderers. <a href="http://everything2.com/node/1389613"><em>Muti murders</em></a> are widespread in southern Africa, notably in the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/NotOnlyInLiberia_SouthAfrica.htm">Republic of South Africa</a>. An estimated 300 people are sacrificed every year and their body parts used in Muti medicine. The recent wave of ritualistic killings of albino people in <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/NotOnlyInLiberia_Tanzania.htm">Tanzania</a> and <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/NotOnlyLiberia_Burundi.htm">Burundi</a> was – exceptionally – exposed in the international media. It was equally shocking to read about the child sacrifices in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8441813.stm">Uganda</a>. Research which I conducted in recent years indicates that ritual murders occur all over the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/NotOnlyInLiberiaIndex.htm">African continent</a>. The victims are not only the slaughtered people, children, women, men, but also the entire population living in fear and too afraid to walk home after sunset or to leave for their farms before sunrise.<br /><br />Freedom of fear is a human right. The rule of law is an obligation of the state.<br /><br />Sure, an explanation for the phenomenon of ritual murders is the uneducated people’s belief in sorcery, but superstition alone does not explain the continuation of these barbaric and criminal acts. Moreover, the reality is that many ritualistic killings are committed by educated people. Many people in Sub-Saharan African countries believe that governments are not willing to stop and eradicate these practices since they are part of the system.<br /><br />The only way these governments can prove their citizens to be wrong is to make an end to ritual murders and to give the citizens their freedom back.Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-39376254889667485492010-02-21T23:02:00.008+01:002010-02-25T01:34:53.933+01:00<em>Sunday, February 21</em><br /><br /><strong>Coups and constitutions</strong><br /><br />Recent developments in the West Africa sub-region provided inspiration for this cursory view of events in a number of West African states during the past five years. The main question I asked myself was whether democracy was a right or a luxury – and who has the right to determine it.<br /><br />The appetite of democratically elected Presidents to stay in power – by changing their nation’s constitution – seems to be a constant factor in politics in West African countries - to just limit myself to the sub-region. Last but not least, recent developments in Liberia are noteworthy, in particular President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's indication that she is considering a second term.<br /><br />What is important, however, in all these cases, is whether the answer is coming from the ballot or the bullet.<br /><br /><strong>Niger</strong><br /><br />February 18, 2010 – Today it was announced in Niamey, capital of the Republic of Niger, West Africa, <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/02/201021812457200576.html">that a successful military <em>coup d’état </em>had taken place</a>. A spokesman for the junta, which seized power, announced on Thursday night in a televised address that the constitution had been suspended, parliament and other state institutions dissolved, the borders closed and a curfew imposed. The following day already the borders were re-opened and the curfew lifted. Shops and banks were open on the day following the coup, and traffic normal. The whereabouts of the deposed President, Mamdou Tandja, were unclear. According to some sources he was reported missing whereas the junta announced that he had been arrested.<br /><br />The coup plotters said they were motivated to stage their unconstitutional act by President Tandja’s decision, last August, to change the constitution – allowing (only) two presidential terms - in order <a href="http://www.africa-confidential.com/article-preview/id/3162/No-Title">to remain in power indefinitely</a>.<br />The junta, which has called itself the <em>Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy</em>, is composed of four colonels. The coup leader is col Salou Djibo. The other junta members are col Djibrilla Hima Hamidou (who also particpated in a successful military <em>coup d’état </em>in 1999), col Goukoye Abdul Karimou (spokesman) and col Amadou Harouna. Uranium-rich Niger has known long periods of military rule since independence from France, fifty years ago.<br /><br />Former colonial power France, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) immediately <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8523573.stm">condemned the bloody coup</a>, in which at least ten people died. A US State Department spokesman publicly suggested that President Tandja may have triggered the coup himself by 'trying to extend his mandate', which led to speculation of a possible US involvement in what some called the <a href="http://www.planetarymovement.org/go/newsflash/the-uranium-coup-by-michael-carmichael/">'Uranium coup'</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Nigeria</strong><br /><br />February 9, 2010 - A week earlier, a <em>‘silent coup’ </em>had taken place in neighboring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria">Nigeria,</a> Africa’s most populated country, and the second largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. On that day, February 9, the National Assembly declared the Vice President, Dr Jonathan Goodluck, <a href="http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-395684.0.html">Acting President </a>because of the prolonged absence of ailing President Yar’Adua who is undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. Yar’Adua had left the country in November 2009, apparently for a medical check-up, but without delegating powers to an interim leader.<br /><br />The Nigerian Constitution did not foresee the situation which then emerged. Initially this led to much confusion and agitation, and to tough bickering among legal experts, who often took sides in the debate which reflected rather their regional origin than a constitutional view. The unanimous decision of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to designate Jonathan Goodluck Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria until the country’s legal President is fit to rule again, must be considered unconstitutional since officially a constitutional change would have been required to legalize this decision even when unanimously taken by the National Assembly.<br /><br />The Nigerian political situation is a very complex one. The federal republic comprises of thirty-six states and one Federal Capital Territory (Abuja). Each of the thirty-six states could be considered a mini republic, the Governor as its President. The fragile peace and precarious balance among the states, in particular the North versus the South, has led to the present system in which the President alternatively comes from the North and the South. The previous President, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olusegun_Obasanjo">Olusegun Obasanjo </a>originated from the South. After failing to change the constitution and to stay in power for a third term, he gave way to the Northerner <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6187249.stm">Umaru Yar'Adua </a>– the winner of the <a href="http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2008/12/nigeria-high-court-upholds-contested.php">contested 2007 presidential elections</a>. But <a href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/links/LinksReadPrint.asp?blurb=640">Jonathan Goodluck </a>is a Southerner and his nomination as Acting President may disturb the precarious political balance. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1064557.stm">The contemporary history of oil-rich Nigeria </a>is one of coups, counter-coups and military dictators.<br /><br /><strong>Guinea</strong><br /><br />December 2008 - Another West African country, bauxite-rich Guinea, witnessed a military <em>coup d’état</em>, only hours after <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7796741.stm">the death of military dictator, President Lansana Conteh</a>. He had ruled Guinea with iron fist after seizing power in a military coup, twenty-four years earlier, after the country’s first President (1958 – 1984) had died, the charismatic but ruthless Ahmed Sekou Toure. Also see my December 2008 and March 2009 postings.<br /><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7797629.stm">The December 2008 coup </a>was strongly condemned by the international community, but welcomed by many Guineans. The junta’s strongman was <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7799279.stm">Captain Moussa Dadis Camara</a>, originally the junta spokesman but who soon became its leader. Like many ‘putchistes’ before him, the leader of the military junta, which called itself the <em>National Council for Development and Democracy</em>, promised speedy elections but soon changed his mind and clung to power.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.france24.com/en/20100219-guinea-september-stadium-massacre-international-criminal-court-crime-against-humanity-">In September 2009</a>, over 150 people were killed and more than 1200 injured when soldiers opened fire on demonstrators who wanted military ruler Moussa Camara to step down. A couple of months later, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara was <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8455682.stm">shot in the head </a>and seriously injured by a former aide. He now is recovering in Burkina Faso, upon the invitation of President Blaise Compaore. Camara was replaced by his deputy, <a href="http://guineaoye.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/sekouba-konate-we-had-no-intention-to-rule/">General Sekouba Konate</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Mauritania</strong><br /><br />August 2008 – Another West African country where the military could not resist the temptation to intervene in domestic politics, was Mauritania. On August 4, Mauritanian army officers announced the <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/08/20088695834599264.html">overthrow of the country's president, Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi </a>and the creation of a military council to rule the country, named the <em>Military Council for Justice and Democracy</em>. More than two-thirds of the members of parliament, and the same proportion of senators, supported the coup. The politicians said the army had merely done its duty in removing President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who they accused of acting anti-constitutionally.<br /><br />The coup, which drew widespread international criticism, was given a mixed reception domestically. France and the US had cancelled their aid. The African Union also suspended the country following the 6 August coup. The governments of South Africa and Nigeria - both major players in the African Union - also criticized the military takeover. <a href="http://lexicorient.com/e.o/mauritania.history.htm#military_coups">Mauritania has a long history of coups</a> - more than 10 military coup attempts over the last three decades - with the military involved in nearly every government since its independence from France in 1960.<br /><br /><strong>Togo, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia</strong><br /><br />The second half of the first decade of the third millennium had started with the young Eyadéma succeeding his father, Africa’s longest serving ruler who had died at the relatively young age of 69 years. In February 2005, 39-year old <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4242469.stm">Faure Gnassinbe Eyadéma </a>was hurriedly installed by the military as Togo’s new President after his father Gnassingbe Eyadéma had died. Dynestic succession is to become a constant characteristic in politics in African countries, notably in francophone Africa. In the Democratic Republic of Congo the murdered head of state Laurent Kabila was succeeded by his son, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kabila">Joseph Kabila </a>(2001). When in another Central African Republic, Gabon, the then longest-serving African Head of State, Elhadji Omar Bongo, passed away, in 2009, he too was succeeded by his son, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8238860.stm">Ali Ben Bongo </a>– albeit through democratic elections.<br /><br />In three other small West African countries a new president was sworn in during the 2005 - 2010 period. In all three countries this happened after a civil war characterized by much violence.<br /><br />In March 2009, President Vieira ('Nino') of Guinea Bissau was killed by renegade soldiers, apparently in a drugs-related conflict. Guinea Bissau has in a short span of time become Africa’s most notorious narco-state. See my March 2009 posting. Nino's successor <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/09/content_12020934.htm">Malam Bacai Sanha </a>was installed in September of the same year - after elections in which one of the presidential candidates was killed by military policy, apparently in a bid to foil a coup.<br /><br />After the end of Sierra Leone's civil war, in 2002, President Kabbah was sworn in as the country's president. In 2007, he was succeeded by his opponent, <a href="http://www.ernestkoroma.org/">Ernest Bai Koroma</a>. A commendable transfer of power, given the country's contemporary history of chaos and conflict.<br /><br />In neighboring Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had become Africa’s first democratically elected female President, in 2006. Recently, she announced that <a href="http://www.rttnews.com/Content/PoliticalNews.aspx?Id=1190466">she will contest the 2011 presidential elections.</a> Her decision, announced at the State of the Nation address on January 25, 2010, surprised many. In her 2005 election campaign, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had indicated that she would not run for a second term.<br /><br />The Liberian 1984 Constitution allows for a two-term presidential term, therefore Sirleaf is legally able to do so. But her position is a controversial one, in particular in view of the Truth and Reconciliations Commission’s <em>recommendation</em> that she be banned from public office for 30 years for her support of Charles Taylor when he invaded the country in 1989.<br /><br /><em>To be continued </em>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-21243240181724836762009-11-10T17:10:00.008+01:002009-11-13T15:23:55.351+01:00<em>Tuesday, November 10</em><br /><br /><strong>LRoc: a famous Liberian living abroad</strong><br /><br />Forced to stay inside with a contagious flu, I was watching CNN this morning when an interview with a Liberian artist from Atlanta, Georgia, was announced. Music producer LRoc - since it was him - is the son of a former Minister of Finance executed on the beach of Monrovia on that fatal day in April 1980. Then 16 years old, he fled with his American mother to the USA where he has been living for the past 29 years, building a career as a successful songwriter and music producer. In 2005 LRoc - aka James Elbert Phillips - was the co-winner of a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402520307824552898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbkoxNJa9HcztcZJPmn9CPUrYqz1mFeXrkTkxwmcrlqPEloeSmEzsCuPZbYeMjpI4BCy5MxEV4BPcYl_59VGwUo4maCImNGXATk-4IGuVI2C6mW2f1TyHiXXXPDQ2bmPPRC1uicsZTTsp/s200/LROC.jpg" /><br />Though my interest in Liberia and Liberians has no limits, my knowledge of Southern hip-hop, crunch music and the R&B scene is virtually non-existent. After consulting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LRoc">Wikipedia</a> and <a href="http://www.google.nl/search?sourceid=navclient&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADRA_nlNL347NL347&q=LRoc+aka+James+Elbert+Phillips">Google</a> I knew more.<br /><br />As a child during the 1970's, James Elbert Phillips studied classical piano although he was not an enthousiast student - it was his parents' choice. He was more interested in Steve Wonder, Prince and Parliament Funkadelic. He taught himself to play the bass guitar. Initially listening to funk bands such as Cameo, the Time, and the Brothers Johnson, later his musical tastes broadened including Count Basie, Thad Jones, Chaka Khan, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ascap.com/playback/2007/fall/radar/lroc.aspx">LRoc - aka James Elbert Phillips </a>- is now a successful songwriter and music producer, working with <a title="Jermaine Dupri" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Dupri">Jermaine Dupri</a>'s <a title="So So Def Recordings" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_So_Def_Recordings">So So Def Recordings</a>. He has co-written and co-produced many singles like <a title="Janet Jackson" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Jackson">Janet Jackson</a>'s "<a title="Call on Me (Janet Jackson song)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_on_Me_(Janet_Jackson_song)">Call on Me</a>" and "<a title="So Excited" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Excited">So Excited</a>", <a title="Mariah Carey" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariah_Carey">Mariah Carey</a>'s "<a title="Get Your Number" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Your_Number">Get Your Number</a>", <a title="Murphy Lee" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy_Lee">Murphy Lee</a>'s "Wat Dat Hook Gonna Be", ", <a title="LL Cool J" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LL_Cool_J">LL Cool J</a>'s "<a title="Control Myself" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_Myself">Control Myself</a>," <a title="Nelly" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelly">Nelly</a>'s "Grillz" and <a title="Usher (entertainer)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usher_(entertainer)">Usher</a>'s "Yeah'" <a href="http://www.freebase.com/view/en/lroc">which won him the Grammy Award in 2005. </a><br /><br />One of the most interesting articles and interviews I read about him was published by <a href="http://www.starpoynt.com/magazine6/id10.html">Starpoynt Magazine</a>. A more technical article - but difficult to read for a non-initiated layman (sorry ladies!) like me - can be found <a href="http://emusician.com/tutorials/producer_keyboardist_lroc/">here</a>. For an easier to read 2008 interview with the man behind Jermaine Dupri click <a href="http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1192/title.producers-corner-lroc?related">here</a>. Also in 2008 the <a href="http://www.sundaypaper.com/More/Archives/tabid/98/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2916/Making-hit-records-with-LRoc.aspx">Sunday Paper </a>published an interview with him.<br /><br />Why do I focus attention on him?<br /><br />There are three reasons. One is that it shows that there is no need to associate Liberia with only bad news. The publicity handicap, however, is that "Good news is no news."<br /><br />The second reason is that it once again shows that creative and precious Liberian human resources contribute more to developments abroad than at home. LRoc is of course far from the only one, there are tens of thousands of his compatriots residing in the USA. Of course I respect the right of individuals to choose their domicile where they want, but their country needs them.<br /><br />I also understand individual Liberians to decide to live and earn a decent living in e.g. the USA, where they enjoy the rule of law and other basic human rights which in Liberia can easily be jeopardized - as recent history has shown. To expect them to give up a guaranteed peaceful existence in the USA for an uncertain future in Africa's Oldest Republic, is not realistic. But - and that is my third reason - this conclusion increases the urgency to rebuild Liberia, to establish the rule of law, and to create a society with sufficient jobs and equal opportunities for all. If that is not guaranteed, they sure won't return to Liberia.<br /><br />It is a painful but realistic conclusion.Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1707516993798601481.post-18500509058547693732009-10-21T00:24:00.015+02:002009-10-22T00:04:53.048+02:00<div><em>Wednesday, October 21</em><br /><br /><strong>Kimmie Weeks and The New Liberia<br /></strong></div><div>Over the weekend I stumbled upon Kimmie Weeks, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/10/18/kimmie.weeks/index.html">labelled Liberia's young hero by CNN</a>. Honestly speaking, I had never heard of him - thought undoubtedly that says more about me than about him. He is famous, not only in Liberia, and in other African countries, but also the world over. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUeoDQlln3wYvu9B-rbHNtQMjn-zFHi52P786T7RBxNmn_pk66g24YjQ8sclQ49L_J4r4TYvY3Mewzy4LShxExS_JqgSvklknyzeF6M3uSMEuDz8a0CiO-Tp8QePLLbgu2l9MZdTKX2Y1/s1600-h/kimmie-weeks5.jpg"></a></div><div>I am not going to repeat here his credentials; <a href="http://www.facebook.com/KimmieWeeks">internet</a> offers so many possibilities to trace his achievements. But I must say, when I saw the movie about him on CNN last week, I was greatly impressed. When I saw him, I immediately recognized his features. </div><div><br />When I taught at the University of Liberia – in the early seventies - among my students was one Weeks, a bright young man, very outspoken, very sympathetic. He was part of the progressive forces opposing the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/WilliamTolbert.htm">Tolbert Administration </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Whig_Party">True Whig Party </a>hegemony. At one time he also was editor of the <a href="http://archives-two.liberiaseabreeze.com/keith-neville-best-2.html">Revelation</a>, one of those anarchistic hand-outs closely associated with the famous journalist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Porte">Albert Porte</a>. Anarchistic in the sense that they did not obey to the rules of the class society where their cradle once stood. Sincerely progressive, with the ideals and ambitions of real reformers (I do not say: revolutionaries), and gifted with a more than average intelligence, they represented the hope every society needs to advance ‘to higher heights’, to paraphrase former president William Tolbert.<br /><br />I watched the CNN movie on Kimmie Weeks and hardly could believe my eyes. What a personality! What an incredible story! Born in 1981, he was a child during the civil war. During the early years of the war, his mother and Kimmie fled, landed in a refugee camp where malnutrition, infections and diseases decimated the population. When sick, the young Kimmie was given up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimmie_Weeks">and tossed on a pile of dead bodies</a>. Thanks to his mother (who is she???) who refused to accept Kimmie’s apparent fate, he was rescued. According to his official <a href="http://www.kimmieweeks.com/index.php">web site</a>, he then pledged a solemn oath: to fight for a better future for Liberia’s youth, later extended to other African countries.<br /><br />In 1998, former Liberian President Charles Taylor made several attempts to assassinate him after Kimmie investigated his government’s involvement in the training of children as soldiers, subsequently releasing a groundbreaking report. <a href="http://www.ibdabo.com/proview/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62:kimmiew&catid=1:latest-news">Eventually he was forced into exile</a>.<br /><br />I will not repeat here what has been <a href="http://www.google.nl/search?sourceid=navclient&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADRA_nlNL347NL347&q=Kimmie+Weeks">published elsewhere</a>. But my interest was aroused. Who is Kimmie – apart from his own personality? I decided to dig into my memory and to consult some friends.<br /><br />The following story emerged. Interesting - as will be clear from what follows.<br /><br />Kimmie’s father was one of the famous Weeks brothers. Rocheforte L. Weeks was his father, born on August 15, 1923 in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crozerville">Crozierville</a>, one of Liberia’s famous historic settler towns. By the way, the notorious oppositional Albert Porte, at one time editor of the already mentioned Revelation, also originated from Crozierville.<br /><br />Rocheforte Weeks was the first Liberian president of the <a href="http://www.universityliberia.org/">University of Liberia</a>. After its creation in 1951, two Americans were at the helm of the nation’s highest institution of academic learning. For various reasons, President Tubman decided in 1959 to install a Liberian as head of the institution. The flamboyant Rocheforte Weeks served as President of the University of Liberia from 1959 till 1972. President William Tolbert appointed him as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1972, replacing Rudolph Grimes (who had demonstrated a lack of loyalty as perceived by Tolbert in the preceding year, after the death of President Tubman).<br /><br />The Weeks family is or was one of the largest Americo-Liberian families. During the <a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/William%20Tubman.htm">Tubman Administration (1944-1971)</a> the three Weeks brothers were famous: the charismatic Rocheforte Weeks, his elder brother James Milton Weeks, who was at one time Minister of Finance, and brother Anthony, former Director of the Budget under Tubman.<br /><br />The three Weeks brothers were accompanied by three Sherman brothers who in the same period were among the most powerful of the Americo-Liberian families. Charles Dunbar Sherman undoubtedly was the most powerful of them. Politician, academician, businessman, key person in religious and other organizations, he also served as Secretary of the Treasury in the late 1950s and early 1960s when Liberia’s ‘<a href="http://afraf.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pdf_extract/71/284/345"><em>Growth without Development’</em> </a>model was at its zenith – thanks to the abundant foreign investments in the country’s natural resources.<br /><br />And then we also had the three Tolbert brothers. William Tolbert, who had patiently served under Tubman as his Vice-President for nearly twenty years, rose to the highest public position. Brother Frank served for many years as the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate whereas brother Stephen, rather a businessman than a politician, was nominated Minister of Finance by his brother-President. The uncrupulous and tough Stephen Tolbert also was the owner of one of the largest and most successful commercial enterprises in the country’s history, <a href="http://www.tlcafrica.com/Culture_richardtolbert.htm">the Mesurado Group of Companies.<br /></a><br />All these reflections emerged while watching Kimmie Weeks. His eloquent leadership, his gift of communication, no doubt he is the son of his father. A born orator, as this other great man, Barrack Obama. I was not surprised to read Kimmie’s political ambitions, and his ultimate goal: <a href="http://money.howstuffworks.com/do-something-brick-awards-winner-kimmie-weeks.htm">the country’s leadership</a>.<br /><br />In my opinion, Kimmie Weeks has the characteristics and potential of 'the new Liberian'. After watching the various movies available, on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Kimmie+Weeks&search_type=&aq=f">You Tube</a> and elsewhere, and judging from his CV and background, I strongly have the impression that he has the potential to play a crucial role in the future of his country where – to paraphrase <a href="http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html">Martin Luther King </a>– he and his children will not be judged on their background, but by the content of their character.<br /><br />Liberia desperately needs people like Kimmie Weeks who have the potential to bridge the Past and the Present - as Liberia's present leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf aims to realize. They, together with other strong Liberians, must bridge the divide between the various segments of the Liberian population, without re-establishing the old order.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/JohnsonSirleaf/TribalRoots.htm">Whereas Ellen represents the older generation</a>, Kimmie is an exponent of the new generation of Liberians. They both represent The New Liberia where labels such as 'Americo-Liberian' and 'Congo-people' have become anachronisms. One nation, one people, one destiny. <a href="http://www.kbears.com/liberia/anthemtext.html">'By God's command'</a>.</div>Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaijhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12951755828929462159noreply@blogger.com2