When the African Union (AU) convened a special summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in October 2013 to discuss 'Africa's relations with ICC', threatening a mass withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), it was not a surprise to many but a smack in the faces of powerless, defenseless, voiceless Africans who are already victims of political thuggery and economic mismanagement by the Continent's politicians. Many believed the proposal, supported by those Heads of States who would never pass the democratic litmus test nor want to be held accountable for their shortcomings, was to grant them the passport, an escape route for the countless crimes committed against their countrymen with impunity. Already, most of these leaders and their sympathizers, had invested in selling the foolish argument that the ICC was bias and out to target Africans. They were building a shield from justice and seeking sanctuary. What a baloney!
"We have agreed that no charges shall be commenced or continued before any international court or tribunal against any serving head of state or government, or anybody acting or entitled to act in such capacity during his or her term of office”, Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn bleated.
Note though, that ICC at the time had opened investigations on 10 minus 2 countries - Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), Darfur, Mali, Libya, Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya. Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta made appearance in the Hague courts last year and the case against him dropped for lack of evidence.
After the summit, one of Africa's worse dictators and pseudo Pan African the Gambia's Yaya Jammeh, who came to power through an illegitimate, treasonous means some two decades ago and continues to rule as an absolute tyrant, braggadociously undermined his former employee and her court. "Be aware that there are two ways of getting somebody to stand trial at the ICC: either by an individual country referring the accused or the case may be filed by the Security Council... If Africa does not want the ICC to treat African cases, then don’t refer cases to the ICC", Yaya advises.
Ironically, this was after they'd collectively lobbied and successfully have the International body head by their own, the Gambia's former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Fatou Bensouda two years prior as Chief Prosecutor. (See the Gambia government's release http://www.statehouse.gm/Press-releases/prssrls-MOFA-election-Fatou-Bom-Bensouda-ICC-Prosecutor_16122011.htm)
"Frankly speaking, we are not against the ICC. What we are against is Ocampo's (outgoing persecutor) justice," AU commission chairman Jean Ping said. Lest we forget, the Criminal Court's membership was strictly voluntary. None was compelled to be signatory to the Rome Statute. So to argue that since George Bush isn't indicted no African should, is the craziest I've ever heard. To me that's like 'since we cannot get all murderers or rapists off the streets, let's leave everyone else off the hook'.
Knowing that the African electorate are not able to hold their government's accountable, unable to check their ever-growing powers, these minions go about perpetrating heinous crimes against their own just so they remain in power. To these presidents and those acting on their behalf, it's to their advantage that no independent body keeps eyes on them in or out of office. But that's an argument for another session.
Two years later, the same august body in what is seen in some quarters as a defiant move, voted to elect a 90-year-old Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to head the Continental body perhaps to 'stand up to the imperialists'. Robert who holds a historical reverence for his role in Zimbabwe's independence struggle and the infamous land reforms, has ruled that country since she attained self rule 34 years ago.
Not so much for his age than his record, Mugabe's not-so surprising ascension to the chair is met with dismay because he's seen by the younger African generation as an angry, unreasonable dictator who'd lost the plot since his obsession with power had morphed him into an intolerant politician and an infective CEO. Mugabe has stifled dissent and failed to turn Zimbabwe's failed economy around, where 1 USD = 361.900 ZWD. Presenting the country's 2014 budget, the finance minister painfully reported that 'poor performance of domestic revenue inflows and the rise in recurrent expenditures will continue to constrain fiscal space'. According to the IMF, the country has at least $10 billion in external debts, and must repay $142 million in overdue payment to be eligible for more credit.
His human rights excesses are even more appalling. Of the many political opponents in Africa, not many adversaries could say they'd endured more torture meted out to them than Mugabe's main rival at the polls. Morgan Tsvangirai had been tortured, persecuted and jailed, with visible scars all over his body and Mugabe was unapologetic. He's accused the man of being the 'puppet of the Whiteman'. Amidst charges of election irregularities by the opposition after the 2013 national elections, Mugabe went on a Yaya-esque tirade and declared that "If they cannot stomach it, they can go and hang. If they die, even dogs will not sniff at their corpses. Never will we go back on our victory”. How pathetic! That a supposedly democratically elected president would feel so godly and yet so hateful to his countrymen. And the same regional body that he's going to head, observed and passed those elections as free and fair. These conniving bastards! That's why there's very little surprise in their shenanigans in this recent episode.
If Zimbabwe were a classroom and Mugabe a student, he would have been expelled from school for his awful failing grades or never promoted. But because Africa's leadership are a conniving, greedy bunch, Mugabe is rewarded for two reasons: an aged bandit who is going to sleep his way to his death any moment from now; AND a stubborn brute with absolutely no regards for Afric(ans), only good for his inflammatory anti-west rhetorics that is surely going to infuriate their main development partners and alienate the continent.
As expected, the jubilant Bob feeling excited and accomplished, made no mention of democracy, human rights or human capacity development in his vision for Africa for the next two years. Instead, he'd gone on his stale, uninteresting vilification of the west and empty trumpeting of 'Africa for Africans' as if this is pre-independent Africa. Instead of AU concerning itself with putting Africa on a path that would put an end to decades-long instability, poverty and braindrain by promoting and instituting democratic ideals and institutions to cultivate, nourish and promote culture and environment of peace and justice while competing deservedly on global economic platform, its newest chair has declared his intention of further isolating Africa and set them on a collision course with advanced economies and donor partners.
“African resources should belong to Africa and to no one else, except to those we invite as friends. Friends we shall have, yes, but imperialists and colonialists no more. Africa is for Africans”, says the man who cannot relate to the current crop of visionary, sophisticated Africans, who's still oblivious to the reality of the world's global villageness.
Speaking on the Union's theme 'Women Empowerment', the man born in the dawn of the century had this premedieval sentiments about women:
"When it comes down to the ground, it's not easy for them. They get married, they must have babies, they must live at home, that's a problem… I’m saying it’s not possible that women can be at par with men", before doubling down in subsequent interviews to polish that. What a jerk!
Sometimes it's hard to sympathize with Africa. When the rest of the world are striving to progress and compete on the global stage, that continent is retrogressing in EVERYTHING. Electing a 90-year-old imbecile, unreasonable dictator to head the Continental body, only reaffirms the kind of criminal, greedy, self-centered leadership that plaques Africa. Africa needs to get on with the rest of the world in embracing the creme de la creme of the continent - the youth. Let them groom and allow an easy, smooth transfer of power from the old guards to the visionary, educated, dynamic young leaders who are adaptable and relatable to the needs of modern day Africa and shape her future. But until then, Watch Bob try to run the Union to the ground as he did Zimbabwe.
But what do I know?! After all, I have my own virus in Yaya Jammeh to deal with.
PS: Seattle Hawks, learn to be 'Patriots' especially when the balls are 'inflated' LOL
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