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Dear Reader

our favourite magazine on Africa has a new look. We hope you will enjoy the new features and columns in this edition, while still giving you the comment and analysis on Africa’s current a! airs from the best experts out there. " e aim of the redesign of both the magazine and our website is to create an attractive platform for the discus- sion of those issues that matter to Africans. Log on to the website for a daily blog and regular podcasts featuring top commentators at the Institute for Security Studies and elsewhere. Y Do not hesitate to comment on the blog or on Facebook and Twitter. We’re waiting to hear your views.

n the news in the last few weeks has been the 5-year mandate of the president of the in 2010. Reform of the judiciary seems to Ithe growing concern about a planned re- National Assembly to one year to get rid be one of the changes that are slowly but view of South Africa’s Constitutional of Sall. Strange but true. surely producing results. Court decisions. Statements from senior Constitutions, though, have also been SA’s President Jacob Zuma states cor- ANC o# cials about the constitution have amended or replaced to serve a positive rectly that a constitution is a ‘living docu- also raised fears among those who sus- purpose. In Kenya, citizens seem fairly ment’. People would certainly agree with pect constitutional changes are envisaged satis% ed with key elements of its new con- changes if these guarantee more democ- to limit their freedoms. stitution, voted in through a referendum racy and not less. When it comes to changes to consti- tutions, Africans have seen it all. Constitutions across the continent resident Amadou Toumani Touré – also initially applauded by Ivorians. have been chopped and changed at the Pof Mali sets an example other He & ed Abidjan a$ er unsuccessfully whim of heads of state and repressive re- heads of state could emulate. trying to manipulate elections and gimes. O$ en it is for rulers to stay on in Contrary to many of his peers, es- died a bloody death in September power for longer than they should; gov- pecially former generals, he’ll be re- 2002. ernments wanting to silence the media tiring peacefully a$ er presidential Today, the Egyptian transitional and opposition dissent or those who elections in April and May this year. military rulers are doing much the would like to centralise power to make His story is exceptional. As head same. While initially promising sure there is no sharing of state resources. of the army, ATT, as he is popularly merely to ensure law and order in a Zimbabwe’s constitution, for exam- known, took power from the long- transition phase, they are still in con- ple, has been changed 19 times – a good time ruler Moussa Traouré following trol, keeping a tight rein on the run- reason why the opposition and many a popular revolt. up to elections taking place on 23 and Zimbabweans believe they need a new In a move very rarely seen follow- 24 May. one before another election. ing coups d’état, Touré then handed " e military, o$ en entrusted with In Senegal one of the roots of the ri- over power to a civilian president. He the task of getting rid of unpopular valry between outgoing president Abdou- remained widely liked and was elect- leaders or to ensure the ‘interim’, are laye Wade and his former Prime Minister ed president much later in 2002 and just as easily seduced by power as Macky Sall stems from an incident when 2007. politicians – once they’re at the top, Sall was president of the National Assem- " ere are very few army chiefs they’ll do anything to stay there. Ma- bly and dared to call Wade’s son Karim to like him. One thinks of general Rob- lians are lucky to have had ATT. address parliamentarians on an issue con- ert Guei of Côte d’Ivoire, who insisted cerning government funds. Furious, on staying on following a coup d’état Wade changed the constitution to reduce [email protected]

Editorial board

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THE In this issue org ISSUE 18 • 2012

Newswatch 05 Upcoming 07 events Interview Features The Democracy 20 Charter SENEGAL A vote for News 08 democracy Analysis Political SOMALIA 10 violence Leadership AFRICAN 22 the key UNION DRC

Confl icting Botched 13 pan-Africanisms 25 elections Nigeria’s 17 foreign policy A struggling 18 PAP Contributors

PAUL-SIMON HANDY SOLOMON A DERSSO STEPHANIE WOLTERS ABDOU FALL Director Research at the Senior researcher in the Addis Africa analyst and expert on Professor of political sciences Institute for Security Studies. Ababa offi ce of the Institute the Democratic Republic of at Euromed University in He specialises in Europe-Africa for Security Studies. He has the Congo. She studied at Dakar, he holds a PhD from policy, international relations a PhD in constitutional and the John Hopkins University, the Institute for Political and politics and studied at the international law from the School of Advanced Sciences at the Toulouse- universities of Yaounde, Berlin University of the Witwaters- International Studies and is Capitole University in and Leipzig, where he rand. Director of Okapi Consulting Toulouse, France. completed his PhD in 2005. in Johannesburg.

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FFOROR MMOREORE CCOMMENTOMMENT AANDND AANALYSESNALYSES GGOO TTOO wwww.the-african.orgww.the-african.org Listen to podcasts, read our daily blog on SUBSCRIPTIONS AND current African issues and send us your views. DISTRIBUTION Helen Chanda Tel: +27 12 346 9500 email: [email protected]

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the region. While this initiative is designed also needs to refrain from merely duplicat- Doubts over new to remove or reduce the threat of the LRA, ing operational structures and techniques LRA plan there is no guarantee that it will facilitate that do not work. " e military command the termination of local-level con& ict driv- will be in the hands of national govern- " e African Union (AU) has now become ers in LRA-a! ected countries. Paradoxi- ments, which could fuel suspicion and in- involved in the % ght against the Lord’s cally, the decision to deploy a regional in- traregional tensions within the alliance. Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda, fol- tervention force demonstrates the impact " e AU’s decision to mobilise a re- lowing a meeting of the AU Peace and that the LRA has had on the region. It di- gional force is also political one, and un- Security Council late last year. " e initia- rectly a! ects the people and governments doubtedly this will a! ect the direction, tive is supported by the United Nations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo duration and outcome of the initiative. (UN) and other members of the interna- (DRC), the Central Afric an Republic, the Given the context of previous military tional community. Republic of South Sudan, and Uganda. campaigns, the questions of power, inter- In principle, the AU is demonstrating " ere are several challenges to the new ests and bureaucratic domestic politics will its will to deal decisively with the LRA force, whose terms of reference are yet to be important factors to consider. problem, for if it is done correctly, the new be de% ned. It should not, for example, just initiative could eliminate the LRA threat in improve on existing military operations; it Sandra Oder

18 February to attempt % nd a new impetus and % nally Hopes of reviving the to revive interstate co- become a strong and viable po- Arab Maghreb Union operation. All of these litical and regional entity. events may be seen as A strong Union would have " e visit earlier this year by positive steps towards a positive impact not only on Moroccan foreign minister the reactivation of the the economies of the region but Saâdeddine Al Othmani to his Union du Maghreb also on Africa as a whole. It Algerian counterpart Mourad Arabe (Arab Maghreb would also provide a bridge be-

Medelci was described as a step © ZOUBEIR SOUISSI / REUTERS Union, known by its tween Africa and the European towards thawing relations be- TUNISIAN president French acronym UMA). Union (EU). In this period of tween Algiers and Rabat. " e Moncef Marzouki Since the UMA’s founda- global economic crisis, where animosity between Morocco tion in February 1989, only six the EU is struggling to keep its and Algeria over the Western ed his % rst trip abroad in Febru- summits have been held, which economy a& oat, the leaders of Sahara con& ict has for many ary this year for a tour of the amounts to one almost every the UMA ought to work to- years caused a stalemate in neighbouring countries of the four years. Today, 23 years a$ er wards genuine interstate politi- North Africa relations. Maghreb. In addition, foreign its creation, and in the midst of cal and economic integration. Meanwhile, Tunisian presi- a! airs ministers from across the profound political changes in dent Moncef Marzouki reserv- region gathered in Rabat on 17- the region, the UMA could well Abdelkader Abderrahmane

stitution that was promulgated include the reform of the elec- port and patron-client politics, Kenya gearing up for in 2010 will only take e! ect af- toral body, the Independent there seems to be increasing a change of guard ter the next elections. With the Electoral and Boundaries Com- inclination to accept the legiti- incumbent president Mwai mission; the drastic reduction macy of the constitution and " e presidential elections in Kibaki not eligible to contest for of presidential powers by the the new institutions. " is is Kenya scheduled for March presidency, there is therefore new constitution; and the sub- evidenced by the recent deter- 2013 are evoking both opti- going to be a change of guard at stantial devolution of national mination by political parties to mism and trepidation. " is is State House a$ er the elections. resources. " e fact that the comply with the Political Par- not only because of the events " ere is no doubt that the country’s new judiciary is gain- ties Act 2011, which, inter alia, that followed the 2007 presi- coming elections will polarise ing a semblance of legitimacy demands grassroots recruit- dential elections but also, more the country, especially if politi- will also play a role, as will Ken- ment drives and the election importantly, because the poll cians once again turn their ya’s experience with the Inter- and updating of records with will be embedded in transition- campaigns into emotional out- national Criminal Court. the Registrar of Political Par- al processes that will a! ect Ken- bursts that detract attention While Kenya is bound to ties. Parties that do not comply ya’s political landscape for a from the real issues. Critical witness factional political cam- risk being deregistered. long time to come. Most of the factors likely to help prevent ex- paigns where the political elite key provisions of the new con- treme cases of electoral violence organises around ethnic sup- Emmanuel Kisiangani

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ICTR. It is quite likely that only Rwanda’s Gacaca the elite will be able to use Rwan- courts close da’s legal systems, whereas the Gacaca courts are accessible to Rwanda’s traditional mecha- anyone. If the Gacaca is closed nism for resolving civil dis- without providing any alterna- putes, the Gacaca courts, will tive way for ordinary Rwandans, o# cially be closing on 4 May. including Hutus, to have their " e Gacaca courts have tried cases heard, this will delay jus- the bulk of Rwanda’s genocide- A Rwandan community tice, which in turn will delay na- related cases. court in session. tional reconciliation. " e time As of July, the International (AP PHOTO/STR) for the end of Gagaca may not Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 2014. " is development raises While Rwanda has made yet be here, but the time for the (ICTR)’s main body is closing questions about what avenues great strides toward national inclusion of all defendants in and will no longer hear any will remain open for ordinary reconciliation, the government Gacaca trials is way overdue. cases except for appeals, all of Rwandans who have not yet should tread carefully around which must be completed by had their cases heard. the closing of the Gacaca and the Naomi Kok

" ey also established an Libya. For Libya it means there gions to attempt to do the The threat of a ‘Interim Council of Cyrenaica’ is now a high likelihood of the same. If there is no peaceful divided Libya tasked with running the re- country disintegrating, wheth- agreement between the vari- gion’s a! airs as well as protect- er by consent or by force. " e ous protagonists (including On 6 March, tribal leaders ing and advancing the inter- choice of leader for the new the TNC) on the way forward, and militia groups in eastern ests of its inhabitants. It entity (a cousin of the former there may be an armed con- Libya declared an autono- should be recalled that eastern king, Idriss, who was deposed frontation for control of either mous, self-governing region Libya accounts for about 66% by Muammar Gadda% in 1969) various strategic parts of the called Barqa (in Arabic) or of Libya’s oil production even and the decision to adopt (with country or the entire country. Cyrenaica. According to its though it holds only 25% of some adjustments) the 1951 In view of the already volatile leadership, the new region the country’s population. constitution of the then United situation, one could argue that will extend beyond historical Reacting to the statement, Kingdom of Libya, signals the Libya is not out of the woods Cyrenaica to include parts of Mustapha Abdul-Jalil, head of tribal leaders’ determination to yet, and the threat of it be- oil-rich Fezzan in the Gulf of the Transitional National go ahead with their plan. coming the next Somalia still Sirte and stretch from the Council (TNC), condemned Secondly, should the cur- looms large. Egyptian border in the east to the move as unilateral and rent move persist, it may en- the city of Sirte in the west. dangerous for the unity of courage people in other re- Issaka Souare

between 2003 and 2004 of the provisions of the Com- Al-Bashir sticks to sparked a strong reaction. prehensive Peace Agreement. fi ery rhetoric At a rally of Popular De- Apart from dismissing the pos- fence Force (PDF) % ghters in sible use of punitive measures President Omar al-Bashir of Khartoum in the presence of against his government, he Sudan has again been lashing the defence minister, President questioned the role of such out against international pres- Bashir dismissed the Cham- moves in his country’s recent sure on his leadership. ber’s decision and questioned history. On the South Kordofan " e Pre-Trial Chamber of the rationale behind its timing. and Blue Nile crisis, al-Bashir the International Criminal He also implied that the court’s OMAR al-Bashir vowed to root out insurgencies Court (ICC)’s 2 March issue of action is calculated to under- ABDALLAH / REUTERS © MOHAMED NURELDIN and called for the mobilisation a warrant for the arrest of Su- mine the Sudanese Armed US secretary of state Hillary of PDF troops across the coun- danese defence minister Abdel Forces and indicated their Clinton’s testimony before the try to serve as ‘deterrence forces’ Raheem Muhammad Hussein readiness to defend the pride House Foreign A! airs Com- aimed at confronting all traitors for his alleged role in crimes and dignity of the country. mittee, which sought to blame to the country. against humanity and war In a similarly % ery mood, him for working to undermine crimes committed in Darfur the president also responded to the successful implementation ISS Con! ict Prevention and Risk Analysis

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not a! ect the mandate of the names, some of which are no 29 April: Presidential president, which is for % ve longer valid. elections, Mali years, renewable once. Legislative elections are President Amadou Toum- planned for 1 and 22 July. " e % rst round of Mali’s presi- ani Touré, who was elected in Meanwhile the security dential elections is planned for 2002 and again in 2007, will situation in the north of Mali is 29 April and the second round thus have to step down. " e increasingly giving cause for for 13 May. inauguration of the new concern. At the time of going A constitutional referen- president is expected to take to print, Touareg rebels of the dum will be held on the same place on 8 June. National Movement for the day. DEV.EUDEVDAYS.EU One of the contentious is- Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) " e constitutional amend- STEPPING DOWN: sues in the run-up to the vote had captured the town of Mali’s president Amadou ment makes provision for a is the electoral list, which is Tessalit a$ er a long stando! Toumani Toure senate to be created, but it does said to contain up to 7 million with government soldiers.

Ahmed Ouyahia, has an- 10 May: Legislative nounced that it will partici- elections, Algeria pate in the legislative elec- tions but has not yet Algeria is having important nominated a candidate. legislative elections in the Louisa Hanoune’s le$ - wake of the Arab Spring, wing Workers Party is set to which saw major changes in participate, as is the Socialist most of its North African Front (FFS) of Hocine Aït neighbours. Ahmed, a well-known intel- Previous elections have lectual who lives in exile. " e largely been boycotted by op- FFS is said to have strong sup- position parties and criticised port across the country. for not being free and fair. While the Islamic Salva-

" is year, Algeria com- tion Front (FIS) is still banned © ZOHRA BENSEMRA / REUTERS memorates its 50th anniver- from participating in elec- ALGERIA’S President Abdelaziz Boute! ika (left), here sary of independence from tions, three Islamic parties with Morocco’s new foreign minister Saad Eddine France, but also 50 years of (the Movement of Society for Othmani, has been in power for 21 years. rule by the National Libera- Peace [MSP], Ennahdha and tion Front (FNL). President El Islah) are said to be cam- empt from the e! ects of the days of the revolutions in Abdelaziz Boute& ika has been paigning together. Ennahdha Arab Spring that impacted so Tunisia and Egypt, but many in power since 1999. has links with the party of the strongly on its North African also say that Algerians are " e National Rally for same name that came to pow- neighbours. weary of violent upheaval fol- Democracy (RCD), the party er in Tunisia last year. Boute& ika suppressed lowing their country’s bloody of outgoing prime minister Algeria has so far been ex- signs of dissent in the early recent history.

dra$ ed and accepted by the 22 April: French opponent Francois Hollande Other events COP at COP17 in Durban in presidential elections from the Socialist Party might December last year. Among French presidential elections beat him by a slight margin in 14-25 May: UN Climate the meetings planned are the are set to take place on 22 the % rst round. Change Meetings seventeenth session of the Ad April, with a second round Jean-Mari Le Pen, leader of A series of meetings organised Hoc Working Group on Fur- planned for 6 May. the right-wing National Front by the UN Framework Con- ther Commitments for Annex " e current president, party, is credited with around vention on Climate Change I Parties under the Kyoto Pro- Nicolas Sarkozy from the Un- 15% of the votes. will take place in May in Bonn, tocol (AWG-KP) and the % rst ion for a Popular Movement Hollande has vowed to Germany. " is follows the session of the Ad Hoc Working (UMP), will be standing for re- change France’s policy towards signing of the Durban Plat- Group on the Durban Platform election for a second term. ‘all of Africa’ if he becomes form for Enhanced Action for Enhanced Action (ADP). According to opinion polls his president.

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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 7 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:232:23 PPMM SENEGAL Triumph of the ballot box

Amid fears of another post-election disaster such as that in Côte d’Ivoire last year, Senegal’s democracy stands fi rm, explains David Zounmenou.

frica held its breath as the Senega- COMMITTED TO DEMOCRACY lese campaigned earlier this year When the long-awaited results were % nally ahead of their crucial presidential made public, close to 60% of voters had A elections. " e controversy over the voted for the opposition. If the opposition incumbent Abdoulaye Wade looked set to leaders had been united, Wade could have end in yet another electoral disaster for been pushed out quite disgracefully in the West Africa. Old tricks of constitutional very % rst round – a humiliating exit for a manipulation, endorsed by the Constitu- leader who fought all his life for democratic tional Court, paved the way for 85-year-old governance and peaceful power transition. Wade, who had already had 12 years in It is clear that the Senegalese people power, to seek a third term in o# ce. are committed to maintaining their coun- Neither street protests (sometimes vio- try’s democratic credentials and uphold- lently repressed) nor international pressure ing peace and stability, especially in light was able to make President Wade change of recent developments in the region. his mind. Meanwhile, both the government " ere is overwhelming desire to keep and the opposition unanimously rejected a the national political consensus and reaf- proposal by the ECOWAS/AU mediation % rm the importance of ethics in politics at a for an ill-de% ned two-year transition plan. time when political manipulation in many Many citizens feared that there would be an countries has led to election-related vio- cal accountability and the preservation of outbreak of violence during the % rst round lence and a stagnation in the democratisa- national democratic achievements. of voting on 26 February. tion process. But this did not happen. And even if the In addition, the vote took place as Sen- INDEPENDENT ELECTION mobilisation on voting day was under- egalese su! ered repeated power failures, MONITORS whelming – at 51,56%, voter turnout was commodity price hikes, systemic corrup- It is important to point out the relative the lowest since 2000 – the message was tion and growing social inequality – a situ- credibility and integrity of Senegal’s elec- clear: Senegalese democracy needs to be ation Wade hasn’t managed to reverse de- toral monitoring bodies as essential miti- protected and unnecessary political crises spite his promises when he came to power gating elements in the country’s electoral avoided. in 2000. process. " ere are now calls to further im- Confusing messages from opposition Overall, it seems that the rise of M23, a prove these standards and deliver a clean leaders, fears of violence and the absence of popular protest movement against Wade’s runo! . Most of the results of the % rst any real debate on the socioeconomic alter- third term in o# ce, has somehow re- round were announced on various inde- natives to Wade might have kept a substan- appropriated the % ght for decent political pendent news networks before being con- tial number of voters away. leaders, respect for the constitution, politi- % rmed by the electoral commission. In securing only 34,8% of the vote in the % rst round, Wade failed to achieve an If the opposition leaders had been united, outright win. " is is a sharp decline from Wade could have been pushed out quite the elections of 2000 and 2007, when he won respectively 58,5% and 55,9% of the disgracefully in the very fi rst round vote. It is clear that the people of Senegal

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Authorities managing the electoral process were faced with a historical responsibility to preserve the transparency of the electoral process and see Senegal through another peaceful and credible power transition

political process, protecting its reputation as one of the most disciplined on the conti- nent, at least as far as politics is concerned. " e authorities managing this electoral process have been faced with a historical responsibility to preserve the transparency of the electoral process and see Senegal through another peaceful and credible power transition. " eir personal integrity and institutional credibility are at stake.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW? While the need for change is being clearly articulated, there do not seem to be any co-

(AP PHOTO/GABRIELA BARNUEVO) herent innovative socioeconomic policy suggestions from the opposition on how to take the nation forward. " e essential point seemed to be to get rid of Wade and close OPPOSITION presidential candidate and former prime minister Macky one of the most controversial political epi- Sall casts his vote for president at a polling station during the " rst round sodes in Senegalese democratic journey. of voting on Sunday, 26 February. Thanks to an electoral system trusted " e president’s dream of having his son, by the country’s citizens, voting went smoothly across the country. Karim Wade, take over will de% nitely be put to rest. At the time of going to print, M23 and Sall looked set to win the runo! unless are dissatis% ed with Wade’s insistence on participating in the % rst round by the Con- there was a dramatic turn of events. hanging on to power (including manoeu- stitutional Court. An opposition victory will have at least vres to groom his son and the proposed With their unequivocal decision to sup- two major implications for Africa as a ‘presidential ticket’ that would allow vic- port former prime minister Sall in the run- whole. Firstly, the continent seems to be en- tory with 25% and the power to appoint a o! , Senegalese opposition leaders aligned tering a situation where its young people vice-president) and want a new leader to themselves with the general population’s are increasingly unwilling to accept take the country forward. desire to force Wade into political retire- imposed authoritarian leaders, and youth Collectively the opposition managed to ment. " e crucial lesson here is that elec- mobilisation and social networks are be- rally a total of about 60% of the total votes toral integrity could be an important tool to coming the most e! ective tools for contes- between the top candidates a$ er Wade, mitigate political crisis, not only for Senegal tation. Secondly, the fact that the neutrality namely, Macky Sall (who came in second but for the continent as a whole. of the Senegalese army has allowed the po- with 26,5% of the votes); Moustapha Niasse Despite the overhanging threat of litical debate to remain relatively nonvio- (13,2%), Ousmane Tanor Dieng (11,3%) violence, there are several important factors lent could potentially have a calming e! ect and Idrissa Seck (7,8%). Popular singer reducing fears of a Côte d’Ivoire-like on the other electoral processes taking Youssou N’dour also came out strongly in s c e n a r i o . " e army in Senegal has managed place in the region and perhaps on the rest favour of Sall, a$ er being prevented from over the years to remain neutral in the of the continent this year.

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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 9 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:232:23 PPMM SENEGAL Political violence a Pandora’s

Following the announcement by Senegal’s president Abdoulaye Wade that he plans to stand for a third term, unprecedented violence broke out in the streets of Dakar. Abdou Fall predicts that from now on, any leader who doesn’t perform will face the anger of the Senegalese masses.

enegal is by no means a stranger to elections. " e Senegalese in fact got their % rst chance to vote as far S back as 1848, when Barthélémy Durand Valentin was chosen as the coun- try’s % rst representative to the Palais Bour- bon in Paris. Yet no election has been as violent as the 2012 presidential election. Fi$ een people died and many more were injured in the three weeks of protests that were aggressively suppressed by the police. In the % rst round of voting, which took place on 26 February, candidates were seen running from tear gas, their cam- paign vehicles attacked by police and their headquarters invaded and sometimes trashed. Even if on other occasions there have been instances of political violence, those of February 2012 displayed a sharp in- crease in intensity.

A HISTORY OF POLITICAL CONFLICT " e history of independent Senegal can be divided into three periods. In the % rst period, running from 1960 to 1974, the Progressive Union of Senegal (UPS) ran a one-party state, but was deep- ly divided. " e animosity reached its peak with the 3 February 1967 assassination in " ies of Demba Diop, president of the UPS, by Abdou N’Da! a Faye. In the second period, from 1974 to 2000, there were fears of political violence ABDOULAYE Wade’s government was accused of supressing dissent through intimidation, imprisonment perpetrated by the parties excluded from and attacks on opposition leaders and the media. the opening of the political space by

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" e many violent events to have taken It is clear that even between election place during Wade’s % rst two terms in- campaigns, political violence has been s box clude the aggressive attack on opposition taking root in Senegal in an insidious way, leader Talla Sylla on 5 October 2003, the whether through abuse of power or the in- attacks on media o# ces such as those of strumentalisation of institutions and laws. Senghor and later by his successor Abdou 24h Chrono or Wal Fadjri, the death Diouf in the mid-1980s. " e main suspects threats made in November 2003 against VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS were members of the Senegalese Demo- Christian clergy, the attack on Alioune It is what Senegalese would call ‘diaye- cratic Party (PDS), the party of the then Tine, head of the Rally for Human Rights dolé’ or the ‘dolécratie’ – the numerous opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade. in Africa (RADDHO) NGO on 23 June violations of rights and improper incar- " e third episode in Senegal’s political 2011 and, most recently, the intimidation ceration, including, for example, the history began in 2000 with the election of of candidates during the February 2012 imprisonment of the former prime minis- Abdoulaye Wade as president. During this presidential election. ter Idrissa Seck for seven months, suppos- period, political violence has reached a " e most shocking aspect of this edly for corruption, in what has become new height, to the degree that it has almost political violence has been the impunity known as the ‘" ies public works scandal’. become a way of regulating the socio-po- and even praise reserved for those respon- For opposition politicians, ordinary litical space. sible for these acts. citizens, journalists and all other parts of

Even between election campaigns, political violence has been taking root in Senegal in an i nsidious way, whether through abuse of power or the instrumentalisation of institutions and laws

civil society, the erroneously named Divi- sion of Criminal Investigation (DIC) has become something of a ‘conscience police’ or political police force, known for the excessively forceful way it arrests citizens who are simply exercising their public rights and freedoms. But there is also the violence of oppo- sition. Without reaching the acts of sabotage or bomb attacks that might be experienced elsewhere, the violence of those who are not in power manifests in Senegal through legal depositions, illegal occupation of public spaces, attacks on public buildings, and sometimes provoca- tion of those charged with maintaining law and order. Even if the motive is to pro- test against the abuse of power and these acts are presented as an expression of pop- ular sovereignty, they are still part of a logic of violence. It is in this context that one should REUTERS/JOE PENNEY

www.the-african.org APRIL | MAY 2012 11

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analyse the rise in violence at the time of Looking back at these " ese are some of the factors that con- the constitutional dispute around the le- tributed to raising the tensions observed gality of Wade’s candidature for a new events, one would want in Senegal over the past few weeks. mandate, which was % nally agreed to by to urge Senegal to close " e Catholic clergy and marabouts the constitutional court on 29 January. prayed for peace and even Wade organised In terms of the evolution of the socio- the Pandora’s box a peace march, but in vain. Added to the political space and the permanence of vio- death toll in Dakar were 20 deaths in Casa- lence, one aspect that has not been su# - mance province, where the rebel Move- ciently dealt with is that of private militias. Most of them became part of the regular ment of Democratic Forces in the Casa- Over a number of years, to paraphrase law enforcement agencies when their lead- mance (MFDC) threatened to prevent the Weber, the state has been stripped of its er took power. But we can nevertheless holding of elections. monopoly over legitimate physical vio- detect a resurgence of younger members lence, with the development of various through the ‘blue guards’, the sentinelles THE END OF TERANGA? forms of ‘self-defence’ groups, some of bleues, from the ranks of the Union of the " e repeated injustices, lack of respect for which could be similar to private militias. Young Liberal Workers Party (UJTL). institutions, the frustrations born out of Firstly, there are the ‘talibe-disciples’ – " en, % nally, there are the more or less impunity and the growing impoverish- groups that are exclusively run by mara- organised groups that place themselves in ment of the population have provided fer- bouts (local Muslim teachers). Secondly, the service of the highest bidder, including tile ground for exacerbated violence. there are the groups that serve a political Djiiw Niit, a famous self-proclaimed ‘war- Senegal prides itself on being ‘the leader – the most famous being the ‘blue rior group’ made up of young bodybuild- country of dialogue’, to quote Senghor, and hats’ or calots bleus that followed Abdou- ers – to belong to this club one has to Senegalese o$ en speak of their generosity, laye Wade when he was still in opposition. weigh a minimum of 100kg. their ‘teranga’ (hospitality) and their paci- % sm. However, the progressive breaking down of the socio-political pact has found MORE LEADERS STEPPING DOWN expression in this election campaign and now risks deteriorating into a free-for-all. hile ten years ago there were presidents,’ he said. " e repeated confrontations on the W11 African heads of state who The conclusions of the report, central square of Dakar, the Place de had retired democratically, today which is made up of pro" les of 16 l’Indépendence, where the opposition at- there are 33, says former US African leaders, is that two-thirds of tempted to hold gatherings to denounce ambassador to Tanzania Charles Africa’s population ‘wake up in a Wade, were fuelled by police repression Stith. country where they have the right to and resulted in urban guerrilla warfare. On a visit to South Africa to determine who leads them’. All of these factors have led to a reduction launch the 10th edition of the annual in the voting rate from 70,8% in 2005 to African Leaders’ State of Africa 51,2% today. Report, he said there is a common Looking back at recent events, one tendency for countries to adhere to would want to urge Senegal to close the ‘some sort of democratic system, to Pandora’s box. To prevent violence and its elections and to reforming econo- accompanied impunity, it is imperative to mies’. strengthen the independence of the judici- Stith, who is director of the ary and particularly the role of the constitu- African Presidential Archives and tional judge (the arbitrator of political dis- Research Centre at Boston Univer- putes) to guarantee justice, equality and sity, said that Senegal’s president respect for the fundamental rights of ordi- Abdoulaye Wade, who was gunning nary citizens. Finally, it must be insisted for a third term, is an exception. that every individual with any form of re- ‘It takes a special kind of person sponsibility should be accountable for his to be a president and step down or her actions. " ose are the minimum re- voluntarily. That’s why we need quirements of a country at peace with itself. legislation to force heads of state to It is in this context that one should un- step down. Democracy doesn’t derstand the call by the opposition group guarantee a stream of exceptional Y en a Marre, which was created in the leaders. Even in the US we have only run-up to the election. " is group wants to had perhaps four really exceptional see the birth of what its members call an NTS: a New Type of Senegalese.

12

TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 1122 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:232:23 PPMM AFRICAN UNION COMPETING PAN-AFRICANISMS Why SA’s post-liberation romanticism distracts from AU priorities

South Africa’s decision to fi eld its Home Affairs minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as a candidate for the position of African Union (AU) chairperson received mixed reaction. Paul-Simon Handy believes that while South Africa has an important role to play, its forceful attitude is not appreciated by all. JACOLINE PRINSLOO SOUTH AFRICA’S Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa in January. Neither she nor her rival from Gabon, Jean Ping, managed to get a two-thirds majority and the decision on the AU Chair was postponed to June.

www.the-african.org APRIL | MAY 2012 13

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he inconclusive election of the Whereas the South African govern- intellectual and material resources were chairperson of the AU Commis- ment and its ruling ANC party claim to used to launch developmental and trans- sion (AUC) during the Addis have a historic duty to use their unique formational initiatives such as NEPAD Ababa summit in January this con& ict resolution experience to ‘liberate’ and the AU, aimed at bringing the African year has undoubtedly paralysed the continent, other countries question Renaissance vision into e! ect. In design- Tthe organisation at a time when it is criti- this rhetoric as anachronistic and not a re- ing and promoting common institutions, cally in need of strong leadership. & ection of the wider post-independence norms and values to drive African devel- With the disappearance of former Lib- experience of the continent as a whole. opment, the Mbeki administration resort- yan leader Muammar Gadda% from the In aggressively pursuing the election ed to a strategy of collective leadership African political scene, a void was created of its candidate as head of the AUC, South that consisted in building consensus with that should have been % lled with fresh Africa illustrated a gap between the way it other key African countries on issues per- ideas, critical thinking and open-minded sees itself in Africa and the way it is per- taining to the African modernisation discussions about the future of the AU. ceived by other countries on the conti- strategy. A$ er ten years of normative construc- tion, di! usion and institution building, RE-EMERGENCE OF THE the AU is in need of strategic thinking LIBERATION RHETORIC about its future direction. Instead, at the In recent years, however, the January summit, an unprecedented power ‘African Agenda’ has become a game around personalities and the sense catchphrase for a utilitarian of destiny expressed by South Africa led to approach to South African for- the re-emergence of old rivalries, suggest- eign policy and, worse, an ide- ing that the hegemon from the south was ological argument that con- shi$ ing its African policy towards in- % rms both the re-emergence of creased assertiveness. the liberation rhetoric and the But for all the ills and wrongs poten- absence of a clearly articulated JACOLINE PRINSLOO tially brought about by this new South Af- strategy for the AU. NICE hat. South Sudan president rican posture, Pretoria’s bold showing in " e conception of an Afri- Salva Kirr greets Zimbabwe’s Addis Ababa has had the indirect (if unin- can Agenda based on the ANC liberation President Robert Mugabe and tended) merit of raising long-overdue Mozambique’s President Armando assumption that Africa needs to be freed questions about the future of the AU. Guebuza. In the background is from colonial in& uences might be appeal- What type of supra-national organisa- Saharawi President Mohamed ing in the southern African context due to tion does Africa need at a time when un- Abdelaziz. the uniqueness of its liberation trajectory. precedented growth rates and an im- But on other parts of the continent, proved governance environment are this type of discourse could be perceived increasing the continent’s strategic impor- nent. " is gap accounts for diverging con- as an attempt by South Africa to mask its tance? What type of AUC is needed in or- ceptions of Pan-Africanism that could hegemonic agenda behind a benevolent der to manage the AU’s sensitive transition present an obstacle to the acceptance of discourse. Rightly or wrongly, South Afri- from an intergovernmental organisation South Africa as a continental leader. ca’s discourse and the assertive way in to a supra-national one? Does the AU have which it pushed Dlamini-Zuma’s candi- the capacity, the right working procedures, AN AFRICAN AGENDA OR AFRICAN dacy at the AUC in January are likely to structures and systems, adequate expertise AGENDAS? produce contestation and competition be- and personnel, to ful% l its mandate? An- For students of South Africa’s foreign tween African key states. swers to these questions will not come policy, the ‘African Agenda’ refers to Breaking with the consensual form of from simply giving the AUC a faceli$ ; Pretoria’s prioritisation of Africa as the decision-making that has prevailed in Af- they require serious discussion on what most strategic area of intervention in rican regional organisations until now is kind of AU is most needed by Africa. foreign policy in support of the African probably not a negative development. But Renaissance project. South African foreign policy actors should ULTERIOR MOTIVES Probably the country’s most important understand that their country’s African Instead of focusing on the questions that foreign policy pillar under former presi- Agenda is only one among many others, matter for the future of the AU, South Af- dent " abo Mbeki, the African Agenda and that this is likely to trigger % erce com- rica and its continental opponents seem to was conceived as South Africa’s continen- petition between African states. have launched a battle for control of the talism that sought to promote a new conti- In any case, de% ning a continental AUC, displaying a strong ideological di- nental order through institutionalism and agenda in terms of opposition to another mension as well as deferring to apparently, multilateralism. region (in South Africa’s case, the West national interests. It is under this banner that the nation’s and not, for example, China) appears to be

14

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A DIVIDED ORGANISATION. The AU, meeting here in its new Chinese-built headquarters, lacks a common vision of where Africa should be going. JACOLINE PRINSLOO

www.the-african.org APRIL | MAY 2012 15

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anachronistic in many other African the AU as a whole. Although its recom- of the AUC’s commissioners should be countries as it can only really be justi% ed mendations were not taken up by the drawn from their performance and e! ec- in immediate post-independence periods. commission, the report’s % ndings remain tiveness, and not be based on which coun- As the continent has now been politi- valid four years a$ er publication. try they originate from. cally liberated, the only slavery from which Among other important % ndings was it still needs to be freed is that of poverty the panel’s view of the AUC as being MORE THAN A TALKING SHOP and bad governance. " is second phase of characterised by ‘internal institutional " e AUC is the de% ning organ of an inter- Pan-Africanism requires di! erent tools incoherence and disarray with a dysfunc- national organisation and as such is gener- than post-liberation romanticism à la the tional working and managerial culture at ally a re& ection of that organisation’s ANC. To many observers, therefore, a le- all levels’. In order to start implementing health. " is is one of the reasons why the gitimate African agenda can only be a com- the audit report’s recommendations, the audit report recommended that only the mon project based on the will of people to AUC needs both excellent management AUC’s president and vice-president should live together according to self-imposed and strategic vision. be elected by heads of state and the rest norms, values and principles aimed at gen- " e diplomatic aspects of AU repre- should be selected uniquely for their com- erating welfare for African people. sentation should be covered by the sitting petence. " is would not only strengthen president. " e AUC needs not only to be the chairperson’s authority but also bring WHAT THE AU NEEDS BEYOND technically strong, with sound experts re- back competence to the heart of the AUC. PERSONALITIES cruited from among Africa’s best brains, It can be assumed that, since its establish- but also gradually to become politically COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY ment in 2002, the AU has built up a sub- independent. As the AU aims to become a AND HUMAN RIGHTS stantial body of norms, principles, policies supra-national organisation with a num- " ere is general consensus around the and institutions that give concrete expres- idea that the biggest sion to the idea of Pan-Africanism in the threats to stability in Af- era of globalisation. For the next ten years rica are democratic de% - it will have to focus on moving towards a cits and socio economic more prosperous Africa, and a battle of inequalities. " erefore, personalities is not likely to be helpful. the major progress If outgoing AUC chairperson Jean achieved by the AU in Ping’s re-election would have signi% ed estab lishing a relatively business as usual in the context of a neces- stable doctrine against sary introspection a$ er a di# cult 2011, it unconstitutional changes is not clear what would have changed if of government is chal- Dlamini-Zuma had won the race in Janu- lenged by the absence of a ary. In other words, reforming the AU and JACOLINE PRINSLOO clear link to its nascent positioning it for the challenges of the 21st governance architecture. century will require more than just a game PRESIDENT OF ETHIOPIA Meles In its current form, the of musical chairs at the AUC. Zenawi, President of Benin Yayi principle is unable (a) to prohibit non- " e year 2011 has exposed both the Boni (seated), Gambian President democratic forms of government already in institutional weaknesses of the AUC and Yahya Jammeh and SA President place and, as a result, (b) to address the Jacob Zuma at a dinner hosted by the confusion amongst its member states, democratic dilemma that consists in toler- South Africa and Ethiopia during particularly South Africa, which has strug- ating repressive regimes as members of the the AU Summit. gled to display a consistent approach in AU while prohibiting their unconstitution- dealing with the numerous crises that al change. " is dilemma has generated the shook the continent. ber of prerogatives transferred from idea that the AU is protecting undemocrat- national states, the AUC should be the ic regimes. A PROFESSIONAL AND embodiment of this construction. Paradoxically, despite the institutional TECHNOCRATIC AUC " is is and will remain the most con- blockage created by the non-conclusive Among other things, the AU needs to tentious endeavour, as member states are election at the AUC in January, and de- streamline its decision-making structures unwilling to transfer more power to a spite the % ght for control of the commis- by improving its standard operating pro- technocratic body. However, the AUC sion by Africa’s big countries, it appears cedures as well as its communication ca- should be the agenda-setter, and its e# - that the pro% le of the organisation has pabilities. ciency in this regard will come at a price. been raised. More than ever, the AU now To date the 2008 AU Audit Report re- " e AU needs to be perceived as an appears to be the legitimate representation mains the most important and accurate organi sation that delivers on issues and of Africa’s aspiration to welfare through analysis of the workings of the AUC and not merely a talking shop. " e legitimacy integration.

16

TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 1166 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:232:23 PPMM CAREER OPPORTUNITY

SADC RPTC TECHNICAL ADVISOR

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and the SADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre (SADC RPTC) invite quali ed and experienced individuals from the SADC re- gion to apply for the position of a technical advisor to the SADC RPTC. ›RESPONSIBILITIES The technical advisor is responsible for GIZ is a federal enterprise assisting the German Government in achieving its providing professional advisory objectives in the  eld of international cooperation for sustainable development. services to the SADC RPTC, in GIZ is supporting the SADC RPTC in becoming a SADC Centre of Excellence for particular with regard to research, Training in the  eld of Peace Support Operations. curricula design, and training assisting the GIZ project manager in preparing and conducting ™LOCATION SADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe project activities, with regards to implementation, organisational šKEY COMPETENCES AND EXPERIENCE aspects and monitoring in close MA in international relations, political science or equivalent, ideally with a focus consultation with the SADC RPTC on con ict prevention and resolution, peace studies, or related subjects implementing daily operational Solid academic background in peace and security issues. Own publications related aspects (procurement, logistics, to peacekeeping and peacebuilding are an asset  nances, etc.) of all issues related to the implementation of the GIZ At least 5 years professional experience in the  eld of peace and security in Sub SADC RPTC Support Project in Saharan Africa cooperation with the GIZ of ce in Experience in designing curricula and training courses on peace and security Harare related issues, ideally with own experience as a trainer Experience in project management, including aspects of monitoring and evaluation as well as administrative experience œDURATION OF CONTRACT 01 June 2012 – 31 July 2013, with Previous deployment in a peace support operation and / or work experience in a potential extension for 2 years post con ict context is an asset Very good working knowledge of ITC technologies and computer applications CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION (e.g. MS Of ce) 09 April 2012 Very good knowledge of English, additional knowledge of French or Portuguese is an asset Candidates should send an Managerial and organisational competence application letter and CV with Willingness to travel regularly reference “SADC RPTC Technical Advisor” including contact details and earliest starting GIZ is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and date via email to: encourages quali ed female and male candidates from the SADC GIZ Of ce Botswana / SADC Attention: Ms. Marilyn Muma, region from all religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons HR Of cer living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. Email: [email protected]

CONTINENT THE AFRICAN ALYSES FROM NTINENT VIEWS AND ANALYSES FROM THE AFRICAN CONTINENT 2011 CONTINENT 2011 ISSUE 15
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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 1177 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:232:23 PPMM AFRICAN UNION KNOCKING ON A CLOSED DOOR

During the last summit of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa earlier this year, the Pan-African n October 2011, the PAP criticised the Parliament (PAP) asked for a limited amount of AU for its failure to prevent the bomb- ing of Libya by NATO and lamented legislative power. However, reports Hallelujah Lulie, I that the latter should have sent an army its efforts fell on deaf ears. to Libya to ‘stop it falling apart’. In a statement that surprised many, the vice president of the continental parlia- ment, whose existence is hardly felt by most Africans, expressed disappointment over the AU’s passive role in the Libyan con& ict.

AN EXCLUSIVE club. AU heads of state are not willing to cede any of their legislative powers. DD PHOTOGRAPHY

18

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On a continent characterised by rub- dations and resolutions on peace and secu- national parliaments have little experience ber-stamp parliaments and authoritarian rity issues. " e PAP also sent a fact-% nding with parliamentary work, the PAP needs regimes, the PAP is struggling to make its mission to Western Sahara in 2011. But to strengthen its partnership and capacity- voice heard. At present, 47 national parlia- despite these commendable endeavours building activities by sharing experiences ments have rati% ed the PAP protocol and and the recognition of the PAP’s role in and lessons learned with other regional are represented there through the % ve continental peace and security matters by institutions such as the EU. " e PAP representatives they each send from their the PSC Protocol of 2002, there is little should also be more speci% c in terms of respective national parliaments for a % ve- evidence that the PSC or any other AU exactly what powers it needs and how it year term. organ has taken the PAP’s recommenda- plans to use them. Article 11 of the PAP protocol states tions seriously. " e PAP also does not have that the body shall be vested with legislative a visible or clearly de% ned role in continen- LEGITIMACY THROUGH ELECTIONS powers, de% ned by the Assembly, to ‘exam- tal security a! airs or the African Peace and A positive development, though, is that of ine, discuss or express an opinion on any Security Architecture (APSA). the African Charter on Democracy, Elec- matter, either on its own initiative or at the tions and Governance, probably the most request of the Assembly or other policy DISINTEREST FROM AU ASSEMBLY authoritative expression of the commit- organs and make any recommendations " e Assembly, which has been over- ment of the AU and its member states to [on] matters pertaining to respect of human whelmed by the election of its chairper- governance, democracy and elections, rights, the consolidation of democratic son, has shown little interest in paying at- which was put into e! ect on 15 February. insti tutions and the culture of democracy, tention to the PAP’s ‘ambitious’ request. Many believe that a continental parlia- as well as the promotion of good govern- ment with legislative powers ance and the rule of law’. In a continent characterised would facilitate the speedy rati% - However, at present its in& uence is cation and domestication of the limited to consultative and advisory powers by rubber-stamp parliaments Charter. " e % nal document of and its members are nominated by the the meeting also announced a national parliaments of the member states and authoritarian regimes, more visible role for the PAP in that have rati% ed the PAP protocol. the PAP is struggling to its implementation of the Char- " e PAP is based in Midrand, South ter, and more collaboration with Africa, but met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia make its voice heard other organs of the AU and re- on 16-20 January this year, on the sidelines gional economic communities of the AU summit, with the intention of During the summit, Ghana’s former (RECs) in that regard. reaching out to the continent’s decision president and PAP ambassador Jerry John " e stated vision for the PAP remains makers and lobbying them for legislative Rawlings noted that the process would be that of providing a common platform for powers. di# cult as ‘some member states believe African peoples and grassroots organisa- the continent is not ready for a powerful tions to be involved in discussions and de- FACT-FINDING MISSIONS pan-African parliamentary body with full cisions on issues facing the continent. So Considering its short existence, the PAP or even limited legal power.’ far, however, this has not been realised. has tried to make its mark in a number of " e PAP’s vice president, Bethel Amadi, To enhance its legitimacy and enable it high-pro% le African con& icts. Based on its made repeated assurances that a trans- to demand more powers and a greater role protocol, which states the promotion of formed PAP would co-exist with national in continental matters, the PAP should con- peace, security and stability as a main and regional parliaments in a manner that sider direct, democratic election of its objective, the PAP forged some level of would not derogate from or erode their members, as is the case with the European instit utional engagement with probably powers or national sovereignty. But the in- parliament. For example, Article 4 of the the most powerful political organ of the stitutional capacity of the PAP is question- PAP protocol enjoins national parliaments AU: the Peace and Security Council (PSC). able at present. It has limited capacity to to ensure that two of the % ve members of " e PAP’s involvement in issues of peace participate e! ectively in policy dialogue each of their parliamentary delegations are and security has been manifested through and recommendations as it relies heavily on members of opposition parties. " e ques- the numerous missions it has sent out the technical expertise of civil society or- tion is, how many African parliaments have across the continent. ganisations. And, as with other wings of the themselves been democratically elected? " e parliament has sent fact-% nding AU, limited % nancial and human resources Ethiopia, for example, which is a mem- missions to Darfur, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, are also a di# culty for the PAP. ber of the PAP, only has one opposition MP Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania and Chad. It also Many believe that instead of request- in a parliament of 547 members. Interna- dispatched election observers to the Demo- ing more powers, the PAP should prove its tional observers have criticised Ethiopia’s cratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in worth by utilising its existing mandate and parliamentary elections, which saw the rul- 2006, Kenya in 2007 and Zimbabwe and resources more e! ectively. As most of the ing party win 99.6% of the seats. " e case is Angola in 2008, later providing recommen- representatives seconded from their no di! erent for many other members. DD PHOTOGRAPHY

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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 1199 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:242:24 PPMM INTERVIEW Fighting for democratic freedoms Q&A

Liesl Louw-Vaudran spoke to Pansy Tlakula, chief electoral offi cer of the South African Independent Electoral Commission and special rapporteur on freedom of expression of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.

THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON African Union (AU) and from the African AS THE SPECIAL QDEMOCRACY, ELECTIONS Commission on Human and People’s Q RAPPORTEUR ON AND GOVERNANCE WAS Rights to encourage countries to ratify it. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN FINALLY ADOPTED EARLIER AFRICA, YOU HAVE BEEN THIS YEAR AFTER BEING IS IT BECAUSE OF WORKING ON A MODEL LAW ON RATIFIED BY CAMEROON. Q BUREAUCRACY, OR HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION? DOES THIS MEAN PROGRESS GOVERNMENTS BEEN A$ er the law is adopted by the Commis- TOWARDS DEMOCRATISATION RELUCTANT TO GET IT RATIFIED? sion on Human and People’s Rights, coun- IN AFRICA? In some countries it’s bureaucracy, but in tries that want a law on access to informa- Well, it took a long time. " e Charter was others it could be that governments are not tion can then use it for their own legislation. adopted in January 2007 and it took happy with certain clauses. For example, Some countries, such as Rwanda, are in the exactly % ve years to get 15 of the AU’s 54 the Charter deals with the controversial is- process of looking at such a law. member states to ratify it so it could come sue of unconstitutional change of govern- into e! ect. ment, whether through coups d’état or YET RWANDA HAS BEEN It also took a lot of e! ort from the through leaders extending their mandates. QCRITICISED FOR CLAMPING

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COUNTRIES THAT HAVE RATIFIED THE AFRICAN because of the existence of these laws, some CHARTER ON DEMOCRACY, journalists practice self-censorship, which ELECTIONS AND has a chilling e! ect on media freedom. GOVERNANCE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO Country Date ratifi ed QMAKE SURE COUNTRIES ADHERE TO THIS? Burkina Faso 06/07/2010 Cameroon 16/01/2012 Because many countries still have laws Chad 13/10/2011 against libel on their statute books, we are going to lobby for the repeal of those laws. Ethiopia 06/01/2009 " at would be the % rst prize. " e sec- Ghana 19/10/2010 ond prize would be for countries to place a Guinea-Bissau 04/01/2012 moratorium on laws to prosecute journal- Guinea 11/07/2011 ists, because we think they have a damag- Lesotho 09/07/2010 ing e! ect on journalism. Mauritania 28/07/2008 " e % rst step will be research to % nd Nigeria 09/01/2012 out where these laws exist and where they Niger 08/11/2011 have been used to sentence journalists to Rwanda 14/07/2010 jail. We will make this information public. South Africa 24/01/2011 Sierra Leone 08/12/2009 Zambia 08/07/2011 The Charter deals, for example, with the Not only in Africa but worldwide. Although the number of journalists killed controversial issue in Africa is worrying, it is not as high as in of unconstitutional previous years. " at is because there are other forms of violation being perpetrated government, whether against journalists. through coups d’état or If a journalist is murdered, as has happened in Syria, there is usually a lot of leaders extending their

WALDO SWIEGERS WALDO media attention, but there are less intrusive ways to suppress the media, such as intimi- mandates DOWN ON THE MEDIA. dation, harassment, arbitrary arrests, con- " at happens in many places. But what is % scation of equipment, closure of media THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE important is that the Rwandan minister of houses and disappearances. QLAUNCHED IN TUNIS. IS information asked about it and showed an THIS SYMBOLIC? interest. YOU ARE GOING TO " e whole of North Africa provides us with QLAUNCH A CAMPAIGN FOR new opportunities for shaping the constitu- WOULD IT BE JUST LIKE THE DECRIMINALISATION OF tional democracy in those countries. QTHE AFRICAN CHARTER, LIBEL ON 4 MAY, WHICH IS WHICH CAN’T BE IMPOSED ON PRESS FREEDOM DAY. WHY IS SOUTH AFRICA IS NOW COUNTRIES BUT MERELY THIS IMPORTANT? QBIDDING FOR THE POSITION SERVES AS A DIRECTIVE? A big problem in some countries is the OF CHAIR OF THE AU COMMIS- All we can do is lobby for more countries criminal defamation laws, insult laws or SION. WHAT DO YOU THINK to adhere to it. sedition laws that are used to arrest and SHOULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE prosecute journalists who publish articles THE FUNCTIONING OF THE AU? YOU WERE CRITICAL criticising their governments. We shouldn’t create an impression that the QOF SOUTH AFRICA’S If a journalist publishes an article about AU hasn’t done anything, but there is room PROPOSED ACCESS TO a head of state or a cabinet minister, it might for improvement. " e AU Commission INFORMATION LAW. ARE be true and in the public interest. Assuming could certainly be more proactive in deal- YOU CONCERNED GENERALLY it is not, the head of state should sue the ing with issues and not wait for the situa- ABOUT RESTRICTIONS ON journalist for defamation. It should be a tion in a country to get out of hand before FREEDOM OF INFORMATION civil case, not a criminal one, so the jour- acting. It can be much more forceful to act IN AFRICA? nalist won’t be sentenced to prison. But when con& ict is about to break out.

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As confl ict-ridden Somalia moves closer to the August cut-off date for its transitional government, Solomon A Dersso looks at the initiatives by the international community to salvage the situation and those factors standing in the way of lasting peace. LEADERSHIP the missing link

here is cautious optimism that the initiative led by the United Kingdom earlier this year to % nd a solution to the Somali con& ict could bear fruit. T" e initiative aimed, among other things, to consolidate the military gains achieved thus far and seize the opportunity for securing peace in the war-torn country. " e security pillar agreed upon in London is accordingly directed both to end the threat posed by Al Shabaab and to deepen and expand the ongoing military operations for stabilising Somalia. " e military operation received a sub- stantial boost on 22 February when the UN Security Council raised the authorised force level of the African Union Mission CITIZENS of Mogadishu have experienced for Somalia (AMISOM) to just under two decades of violence and state collapse.

CREDIT: RENE DEL CARME CREDIT: 18 000 troops, doubled the funding of the

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mission, approved the provision of addi- today as they have been in the past, the Shabaab, the various power factions within tional capabilities such as air power and major obstacle to peace in Somalia is the the TFG became embroiled in % erce squab- expanded its mandate by authorising it to country’s political leadership, which has bles. With the end of the transitional peri- use ‘all means necessary’. Coming as it did been characterised thus far by its corrup- od fast approaching, disagreement has at a time when increased attention was be- tion, ineptitude, rivalry, intrigue and lack erupted between the Transitional Federal ing paid to pursuing peace on the basis of of cohesion. Parliament and the executive institutions of an agreed political strategy, the London the TFG over whether the TFG’s term initiative was meant to build on processes A FLAWED TFG should extend beyond August 2011. that started during 2011 for % nalising the Apart from the serious institutional in- While the president and his cabinet necessary political processes for ending adequacies of the Transitional Federal requested a one-year extension in the the transitional period in August. Government (TFG), including its limited term, the parliament and its speaker in- Understandably, the focus of this latest capacity and failure to establish a func- sisted that elections should be held for the initiative, as well as of those that started in tioning security sector, the TFG most position of TFG president as well as for 2011, has been on state-building activities. notably su! ers from in% ghting and the the positions of speaker and deputy However, this latest state-building process same kind of leadership crisis that speaker of parliament. is di! erent in that, unlike previous e! orts, it emphasises supporting local and region- al structures of government and not mere- ly establishing a functioning central gov- ernment.

NO GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS Amid this plethora of military, security and political developments feeding into each other to create the conditions for peace, it would not be wrong to say that this is the % rst time since 2006 that Soma- lia and the international community have come close to breaking the cycle of

violence in the country. " ere is indeed a RENE DEL CARME strong chance that Somalia may % nally THE victims of Somalia’s war. Internal strife among Somalia’s leaders is triumph over its two decades of violence, blamed for the lack of a political solution for the country’s con! ict. chaos and state collapse. Unfortunately, nothing can be taken for granted in Somalia. There is indeed a strong " is resulted in an impasse be- " ere is no guarantee that these multi- tween the parliament on the one dimensional initiatives will not face the chance that Somalia may hand and the president and his cabi- same fate as the dozen or so previous at- net on the other. tempts at bringing peace to Somalia. " e fi nally triumph over its two In the past two months, there major problem is that there are a number decades of violence, chaos was again a serious power struggle of situations that have the potential to between parliamentarians and the frustrate the opportunity the improving and state collapse speaker of parliament following the security condition has created. Al Shabaab motion to remove the speaker from is a major factor and thus much of the his post. " e situation descended focus of regional and international actors bedevilled former president Abdullahi into physical % ghting between members is on addressing the Al Shabaab menace. Yusuf’s tenure and led to his eventual of the parliament. " ere is also understandable concern departure. Rather than providing institu- about the destabilising role of regional tional checks and balances, the three LOCAL POWER STRUGGLES actors. Indeed, these spoilers should take a centres of power in the TFG (parliament, Another serious threat to political stability signi% cant portion of the blame for the president and prime minister) have are the emerging regional and inter- and instability that Somalia has faced over the produced division, rivalry, instability and intra-clan power tussles. Such rivalries are past decade. Every e! ort should be made to lack of common purpose. over control of revenue sources and for deny them the opportunity to undermine " e latest power tussle in the TFG took % lling the governance vacuum ensuing the momentum for peace in Somalia. place in mid-2011. As the TFG/AMISOM from dislodging Al Shabaab. While these threats are as important and allied forces gained territories from Al Indeed, as the current political and

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Rather than providing institutional checks and balances, the three centres of power in the TFG (parliament, president and prime minister) have produced division, rivalry, instability and lack of common purpose

security developments leave the question of leadership wide open, the coming months are likely to see an intense power struggle THE FIGHT against Al Shabaab was given a boost in February when the among Somalia’s various political actors. UN increased the force level of AMISOM to just under 18 000 troops.

Although according to the current RENE DEL CARME timeline a new parliament should be elect- ed in May and a new executive in July, If the opportunity for peace currently in Kosovo where a UN mission exercised some powerful elements, including the being presented is not realised, the last executive power under a Security Council president, are believed to be keen on se- resort should be a joint AU-UN executive mandate. curing another mandate. administration of Somalia. " is is an idea Clearly, the prospects for peace in While those in the TFG are expected that is proposed in a non-paper recently Somalia, although strong, are far from to defend their established interests, other produced by Italy. Although this proposal guaranteed, mainly due to the serious lack Somali political actors are vying for in& u- is controversial and may require a great of visionary and cohesive Somali leader- ence and position in the new political deal of advocacy to % nd support among ship. " e coming few months will tell dispensation expected to be inaugurated Somalis, it should not be dismissed whether there is enough wisdom and deter- a$ er the expiry of the transitional period altogether. Such a measure is not totally mination to overcome this major challenge in August this year. unprecedented. " ere were cases such as and deliver peace for Somalia.

DIPLOMATIC TIES

n an effort to play a role in the new presidential compound in the city. Istabilisation plans for Somalia, Thousands of people were again countries such as the UK and South forced to ! ee to the centre of the Africa have taken steps to establish city to avoid heavy " ghting in the diplomatic representations in the Afgooye corridor, just south of country. Mogadishu. Abdullahi Haji Hassan Ugandan soldiers of the African Mohamed, Somalia’s minister of Union Mission for Somalia (AMI- foreign affairs, told a press SOM) vowed to drive Al Shabaab conference in Pretoria, South Africa, militias out of the large parts of the on 13 March that the situation had country that the organisation still ‘stabilised’ and people were rebuild- controls by August. ing their lives after two decades of This is also the cut-off date for devastating war. However, shortly the present Transitional Federal after he spoke, renewed violence Government (TFG), whose mandate

YOLANDE SNYMAN broke out in the capital, Mogadishu, will have to be renewed through ABDULLAHI Haji including an attack on the elections. Hassan Mohamed

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OPPOSITION leader Etienne Tshisekedi’s supporters still believe their leader won last year’s elections and vow to continue protesting against the government. PAUL BOTES PAUL A SHODDY ELECTION Ieaves the future in tatters

The political situation in the idespread electoral fraud, have le$ the country deeply divided and opposition protests, tepid facing an uncertain political and economic Democratic Republic of the criti cism from a worn-out in- future. Congo (DRC) is increasingly Wternational community, and a Political scientist and director of ruling party indi! erent to its lack of legiti- Kinshasa’s Pan-African Institute for Inter- unstable after fl awed macy – the DRC’s 2011 legislative and national and Strategic Relations, Professor presidential elections at the presidential elections meet all the stereo- Philippe Biyoya, said, ‘We are in a very pre- types of a botched African election. carious situation, because the elections were end of last year. Stephanie But for the DRC’s 60 million people, the not a moment of reinforcement of national Wolters looks at what this bungled electoral process means that their cohesion which could have increased our future again hangs in the balance. Instead c apacity to move towards a stable future… means for the future of one of consolidating a fragile democratic pro- " e elections have not given our institutions of Africa’s largest and cess that started with the conclusion of a strength. " ey are another war.’ peace agreement in 2002 and culminated in " e trouble started long before the potentially richest countries. the 2006 election, the bungled 2011 polls elections, with the appointment of a Kabila

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crony – Pastor Ngoy Mulunda – as presi- These elections have already because no one has more than dent of the Independent National Elector- 100 seats… All these people al Commission (CENI). " is seriously un- shaken the DRC’s relationship came to [politics] to become dermined the commission’s credibility, with international fi nancial ministers, not parliamentary and sparked a series of challenges from the deputies.’ political opposition. institutions such as the World Managing the demands of Already heavily politicised, the CENI Bank, which announced in all these hangers-on will be a then got o! to a slow start and was forced to major headache for the presi- organise the elections under tremendous January that it was stopping dent in the formation of his time pressure as the schedule had already new government as well as in been delayed several times. And there were its budgetary support over the day-to-day management other serious challenges: in 2006, the Unit- concerns about transparency of parliament. " ere are ed Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUC) already reports that the loose- organised the elections, coming to the par- and governance knit group may split. ty with its massive logistical and adminis- But by far the most signi% - trative capabilities, while the local electoral terms of skills and capacity and logistics.’ cant problem is that political opposition commission played a supporting role. Where does this leave the DRC? parties allied to Tshisekedi’s Union pour la In 2011, the UN mission (which in Kabila’s legitimacy as president is in doubt Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS) are 2010 was renamed the United Nations – according to the o# cial results, he won boycotting parlia ment, leaving close to 100 Stabilisa tion Mission in the DRC, or with 48% of the vote, against opposition opposition seats empty. " e UDPS alone MONUSCO) assisted with logistical leader Etienne Tshisekedi’s 32%. won 41 seats and its political allies several support – but its role was signi % cantly International observer missions such dozen more. " is weakens the political op- reduced, and the CENI was in charge of as the European Union and the Carter position, and diminishes its overall lever- the overall process. Center noted incidents of serious fraud age. and irregularity and have asked for further Tshisekedi, who declared himself KABILA’S LEGITIMACY investigation but stopped short of saying president in December, has demanded QUESTIONED that the outcome was illegitimate, and that the elections be cancelled and that Many of these issues had been pushed by most Western governments have acknowl- there be a political dialogue to chart the President Joseph Kabila himself. Kabila has edged Kabila as the legitimate president. future. Tshisekedi’s political advisor and long had a ‘love/hate’ relationship with the Domestically, the powerful and well- hard-line supporter Valentin Mubake has international community and he is not shy respected Catholic Church, which deployed likened suggestions that the UDPS partici- to openly criticise Western donors, some- 6 000 domestic observers, has been more pate in parliament to eating poisoned times accusing them of violating the DRC’s outspoken in denouncing the election. sovereignty. It was Kabila who pushed for a Since then its leader, Cardinal Laurent reduced mandate for the UN peacekeeping Monsengwo, has found himself the target mission, and who insisted that the CENI of vicious attacks in the pro-Kabila media. take the lead on the 2011 elections. Vincent Tohbi, former DRC country A DAMAGING BOYCOTT director and now director of programmes " e outcome of the legislative elections, at the Electoral Institute for Sustainable with the presidential alliance (Majorité Democracy in Africa (EISA), says that, in Presidentielle, or MP) winning 340 of 500 principle, it was right for the CENI to take seats, has also been widely contested. " e charge of the process this time around. ‘We new parliament is composed of members of understand that is the case in all countries a dizzying number of political parties – 98 emerging from long periods of war and UN in total – most of which were either created supremacy. Once people have legitimacy, by the ruling party or aligned themselves they say, “We want our sovereignty; we with the MP out of political expediency want to do our thing,” which is good. But rather than ideological kinship. when you do that you have to have the As many as 45 parties are represented means and the capacity, otherwise you go by only one seat. Nonetheless, even these straight against the wall. By the time the parties will expect to be rewarded for their CENI decided to have open collaboration contribution to the overall victory of the NO end in sight for Kinshasa’s with the [other electoral players], it was alliance. Says Professor Biyoya: ‘Instead of poorest. Residents burn old hawker late. " ey thought that being ready % nan- forming one popular party, they divided tables used for drying " sh. cially meant that they would be ready in their forces… they are all in the minority

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food, and he rejects the idea that an in January that it was stopping its budget- he boarded a & ight to Europe. He was later opposi tion boycott plays into the hands of ary support over concerns about political accused of having materials on his com- the presidential majority. transparency and governance. Bilateral do- puter that incited Congolese security forces One UDPS parliamentarian who dared nors may follow – most now appear to be to undermine the state. " e UDPS has dis- to attend the opening ceremony in mid- waiting for the formation of a government missed the allegations and said the % les February was promptly expelled from the to gauge whether Kabila intends to reach were planted there by the government’s party. Mubake has threatened to expel eve- out to his political opposition. intelli gence agency, but the government ry elected UDPS deputy who attends par- remains steadfast and says it plans to pur- liament. But many political observers fear PRESSURE FROM DONORS sue legal action against Shabani, who still that the opposition boycott will damage the Koen Vervaeke, the European Union’s di- has not been allowed to leave the country. institution. During a recent political debate rector for the Horn of Africa, Eastern and " ere has also been a clampdown on on Radio Okapi, Andre Lubanza, vice- Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, political freedoms. On 16 February this chancellor of the faculty of social sciences, and senior coordinator for the Great Lakes year, the Catholic Church organised the administration and politics at the Univer- region, said: ‘" e elections were problem- annual March of the Christians to comme- sity of Kinshasa said: ‘We are facing a crisis atic; it is impossible to redo them, % nan- morate the 1992 killing of protestors by the because if already a hundred deputies are cially, politically and logistically… [We] Mobutu government. " is year it was also a not presenting themselves… the institution want to see the dialogue broadened and protest march against the elections. will not function normally. " ere will not more political space, so instead of a divid- In Kinshasa, the governor forbade the be a credible, functioning opposition… " e ed society, there are e! orts between the march to go ahead. In the a$ ermath, several essential thing is not to be in the Assembly, majority and the oppo sition to come to- members of the clergy were arrested, while but to make oneself heard. gether. " at can be within parliament and % ve television and radio stations sympa- ‘A battle from within parliament could within a government. " e majority should thetic to the opposition were shut down. be a good thing, provided that the opposi- not close itself o! in an authoritarian " e crackdown was condemned by the EU tion manages to organise and get its act to- stance but instead engage in dialogue with and by MONUSCO. gether. At the moment it is not organised – the opposition.’ " ere are reports of behind-the-scenes the MLC (Movement pour la Liberation du But the Kabila government has already attempts by the international community Congo) and the UNC (Union Nationale further antagonised the political opposi- to convince the Kabila government to break Congolaise) are participating,’ he added. tion and civil society, which accuse it of its impasse with the political opposition. So " ere is a lot at stake. " ese elections committing human rights violations far though, these have not borne fruit. have already shaken the DRC’s relationship against its opponents. In early February Ambassa dor Vervaeke says the EU’s mes- with international % nancial institutions UDPS secretary general Jacquemin Shabani sage is clear: ‘We have sent a clear message such as the World Bank, which announced was detained at Kinshasa’s Ndjili airport as and we are con% dent they understand what direction we would like them to take. We are actively engaged.’ But there are more worrying signs on the horizon. In late February minister of information Lambert Mende provoked the international community when he said that provincial and local elections cur- rently scheduled for later this year could not be held unless they were % nanced on time by the international community. Mende also said that the international community had not contributed its share to the organisation of the presidential and legislative elections. " e CENI is already behind with the preparations for the provincial assembly elections, originally scheduled for May. It has said that it will release a new electoral calendar once it has completed its evalua- tion of the 2011 electoral process.

Stephanie Wolters is a con! ict analyst and journalist specialising in the DRC. She is also a director of Okapi

PAUL BOTES PAUL Consulting.

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n the past few weeks there has been in- minister of correctional services, Ngoako creasing concern over statements made Ramatlhodi, who has made some of the by senior ANC o# cials attacking the most chilling anti-constitutional state- South African judiciary. Various ANC ments, has faced corruption charges re- heavyweights have made statements sulting from questionable procurement Ithat the judiciary is hindering trans- dealings he undertook while premier of formation in South Africa and that the Limpopo between 1994 and 2004. Constitutional Court is being used to " ese charges were later withdrawn undermine the elected branches of without explanation in 2008 by the then govern ment (the executive and parlia- Acting National Director of Public Prose- ment) and their policy decisions. cutions (NDPP) Mokotedi Mpshe, who Most recently, President Jacob Zuma later controversially also withdrew cor- GARETH NEWHAM stated that the government intends to ruption charges against Zuma. review the powers of the Constitutional More recently, a number of court Court. However, the executive branch of cases have been particularly embarrassing government has no authority to change for Zuma and the ruling party. For the powers of the Constitutional Court instance, the Supreme Court of Appeal without amending the constitution, which found that Zuma had acted ‘irrationally’ requires a two-thirds parliamentary by appointing Menzi Simelane as the new majority, which it does not have on its Natio nal Director of Public Prosecutions own. despite the man having been found to be Although various ministers and gov- dishonest during the Ginwala Commis- ernment communicators have tried to sion of Inquiry and the Public Service spin the president’s statement di! erently, Commission (PSC) recommending for- it remains yet another example of how mal disciplinary charges against him. certain powerful politicians either don’t Increasing instances of understand or don’t respect South Africa’s POLITICAL INTERFERENCE senior ANC offi cials constitutional democracy. " e Constitutional Court also recently In this environment, the recent pro- found that the legislation dra$ ed to attacking the courts nouncement that the cabinet intends to establish the Directorate of Priority Inves- assess the impact of the Constitutional tigations (also known as ‘the Hawks’) was can be interpreted as Court’s rulings and discuss the transfor- unconstitutional. " is was because the an attempt to place mation of the judiciary is generally inter- Hawks were found not to be as independ- preted in a negative light. ent from political interference as the pressure on judges to No o# cial explanation has been given Scorpions, the agency that was responsi- be more ‘executive as to why the government wants to make ble for uncovering evidence of corruption these assessments and how they will against Zuma and successfully prose- minded’ and to act improve failures in government service cuting former police chief Jackie Selebi on more in line with the delivery. As has been raised by various corruption charges. legal analysts, it is not the Constitutional Increasing instances of senior ANC ANC’s thinking Court’s fault that land reform is slow, local o# cials attacking the courts can be inter- government is not delivering services or preted as an attempt to place pressure on that children are not getting adequately judges to be more ‘executive minded’ and educated. to act more in line with the ANC’s think- It is therefore di# cult to look at the ing. However, it has also been argued that pronouncements by Zuma outside of this if government o# cials simply upheld the context, or without considering powerful constitution as they are required to do, ruling party politicians’ confron tations there would not be so many rulings with the law. For example, the deputy against them.

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TRAINING PROBLEMS of personnel who work in the SAPS. Meanwhile the South African Police In the past ten years or so, approxi- Service (SAPS) has come under % re a$ er mately 70 000 additional posts have been the Sunday Times weekly newspaper created and % lled within the SAPS, so that received a copy of an SAPS internal audit as of 2011 the organisation consisted of report dated 14 December 2011. over 197 000 sta! . " e audit found that about 27 329 " is has resulted in a police-to-popula- police o# cers, or 17% of the 157 704 tion ratio of around 1:260, which is far bet- o# cers who underwent the necessary ter than the UN-recommended ratio of training, had failed to achieve the pro% - 1:400. However, an analysis of the crime ciency requirements for handling % rearms, trends shows that the increase in police limiting the extent of the police work that o # cials has not necessarily yielded positive these o# cers are able to do. results. Murder has decreased relatively " e report suggests, however, that consistently by about 50% since 1994, many of the o# cers remain in operational during which time the number of police posts, which may mean that they will at o# cials decreased before increasing. some point be required to use their % re- Moreover, between 2004 and 2009, arms in self-defence. " e fact that they do residential robberies and business robber- not meet the minimum requirements to do ies increased by 100% and 295% respec- so could result in death or serious injury to tively, at a time when the SAPS had grown Rather than enhancing themselves, their colleagues or civilians. by a substantial 30%. It has also emerged that at some police More recently, with recruitment % gures public safety, police training colleges, those who undertake stabilising and with better use of existing training in handling % rearms are not prop- resources, the SAPS has managed to reduce offi cers who are not erly tested. Instead, in an attempt to meet residential robberies by over 10% and slow adequately trained in performance measurement targets, some the rate of increase in business robberies to instructors simply read out the answers to 4% over the past two years. handling fi rearms pose the written part of the test and allow train- " is has demonstrated to policy- an additional danger to ees to stand closer to the target than the makers that it is not the quantity of police distance required. personnel that makes the di! erence so the citizenry " is means that correct procedure is much as their quality and compromised in order for the trainee to at- skills. Consequently, a tain a pass mark. Rather than enhancing decision has been taken public safety, police o# cers who are not to reduce the number of adequately trained in handling % rearms SAPS employees to 188 pose an additional danger to the citizenry. 000 by 2012-15 and in- " e % ndings of this audit also raise the crease the number of de- issue of how the mass recruitment of police tectives to 38 152 (a 24% o# cers results in a range of other organisa- increase since 2008). tional problems. Typically, in order to meet " e minister of increased recruitment targets, standards police, who is driving for vetting and training are lowered. Man- this policy change, an- agement systems become overstretched, nounced recently that all resulting in increased police misconduct, police o# cials should corruption and poor service delivery. undergo some investiga- How the SAPS will respond to this tion training, irrespective audit is not yet clear. Hopefully it will result of whether they work as THE GOVERNMENT has called for in improvements in the way that police of- detectives or not. a review of the decisions by the % cers are recruited, trained and assessed. " is will hopefully reduce the contami- Constitutional Court. nation of crime scenes by uniformed BUDGET HOLDS PROMISE o # cers who, instead of simply securing For more than a decade, the annual budget the area, tend to walk around touching for the SAPS has been increasing by about various objects, which hinders the collec- 14% per year. " e money has been essen- tion of forensic evidence necessary to tially spent on increasing the recruitment identify and prosecute criminals.

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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 2299 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:242:24 PPMM COMMENT | WEST AFRICA Unscrupulous politicians a threat to peace and prosperity DAVID ZOUNMENOU

‘The strongest is never strong enough to and the new scramble for its oil, minerals and other natural resources. be always the master, unless he transforms On the other hand, the continent strength into right, and obedience into duty.’ seems to be experiencing political stag- nation and increasing political violence Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract. emanating from deliberate attempts by leaders to manipulate existing political, social, ethnic and religious di! erences. In the face of those two contradictory n November 2011, during a visit to trends, Pope Benedict called for some Benin, Pope Benedict XVI called upon kind of ethical renewal in the way politics African leaders to govern for their plays itself out on the continent to preserve I people and to place the principle of the fragile social, political and economic social justice and humanism at the heart gains of the past two decades. of their public actions. He lamented, ‘At this time, there are MACHIAVELLIAN AFRICAN too many scandals and injustices, too LEADERS much corruption and greed, too many " e debate about ethics in political life is errors and lies, too much violence which not new and there exists an abundance of leads to misery and to death. " ese ills literature on the subject. Politics has long certainly a( ict your continent, but they been associated with the art of manipula- also a( ict the rest of the world.’ tion, and this has gained momentum Pope Benedict called Pope Benedict’s call came at a time lately, inspired by the maxims of the when Africa continues to face tremen- Italian political scientist and philosopher for some kind of ethical dous sociopolitical and security challeng- Niccolo Machiavelli. renewal in the way es, in spite of the progress made over the In essence, Machiavelli suggested that past two decades towards creating an en- for a prince to rule and maintain his politics plays itself out vironment conducive to economic power, public and private morality had to on the continent to growth, peace and prosperity. be separated, arguing that such a prince Two main trends seem to de% ne the should be less concerned with his reputa- preserve the fragile current state of a! airs on the continent. tion and willing to act immorally. On the one hand, Africa is seen as As a political scientist, Machiavelli social, political and having good potential for economic also insisted on the occasional need for economic gains of the growth, certainly as a result of sound some methodical exercise of brute force, macro economic and structural political deceit and other unethical means to main- past two decades reforms introduced since the early 1990s tain power. Indeed, we are so familiar with

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these precepts that Machiavellism is o$ en Although active armed con& icts are in and many other countries call into ques- the % rst thing that comes to mind when a sharp decline on the continent and tion the integrity of some of the recent evoking political life on the African conti- elections rather than coups d’état have electoral processes and political decisions nent and around the globe. become the norm, political violence is in Africa. It is as though our politicians have arguably on the rise. tried their best to uphold Machiavelli’s As the methods of political manipula- POLITICAL INSTABILITY submissions to the letter and assigned tion become more subtle, the reactions of THREATENS GROWTH themselves the task of living up to his citizens – generally, large groups of young " e idea of providing incentives for lead- maxims. " e late president of the former people without many socioeconomic op- ers to step down peacefully is, at best, Zaïre, Mobutu Sese Seko, is said to have portunities – seem to be becoming in- myo pic, as leaders generally lose sight of mastered Machiavel lian doctrine to such creasingly violent. the moral authority and in& uence they an extent that his exit from the political In many instances, political manipula- could enjoy in respecting the constitu- scene resulted in the descent of his coun- tion focuses on the electoral process and tional term limits and e! ectively deliver- try into decades of war and chaos. encompasses four broad initiatives. ing public goods to their citizens. Firstly, it begins with opportunistic state As the AU decides to make 2012 a RESISTANCE TO decisions to amend the existing electoral year of ‘shared values’, it is imperative that DEMOCRATISATION laws to hold one-round elections (as in democracy and good governance norms Political activities have become a serious Gabon, Togo and the DRC), on the be given substantial support to reduce threat to peace and prosperity in many premise of national sovereignty and incident s of political violence. countries in Africa. Resistance to genuine % nancial constraints. " e rati% cation earlier this year of the democratisation has manifested itself 2007 African Charter on Democracy, through many incidents of election-related Elections and Governance is an important and other political violence. For example, Political instability is a milestone. However, it will be useless if Liberia’s post-con& ict reconstruction e! orts are not made for its domestication achievements were nearly reversed with threat to economic and, essentially, if political actors do not the violence that marred the presidential growth and widespread strictly adhere to its key principles. elections in October and November 2011, Political instability is a threat to when the incumbent president and % rst corruption an obstacle economi c growth, and widespread elected female head of state in Africa, Ellen to fair distribution of corruption is a major obstacle to the fair Johnson Sirleaf, renounced her promise to distribution of national wealth. " e ensu- serve only one term and sought a second national wealth ing resentment could be detrimental to term to complete her reform projects. the economic prospects foreseen for the " e same argument was used by the continent by major % nancial institutions, former president of Niger, Mamadou Secondly, existing governments ensure as well as to the survival of the political Tandja, and is currently being used by their control over electoral monitoring elite. Abdoulaye Wade in Senegal, with each bodies, including the constitutional coun- " ere is a great need to heed Pope respective country being thrown into cils, which are o$ en led by prominent law- Benedict’s concluding words: ‘We are unnecessary political turmoil as a result. yers with a questionable sense of neutrality faced with legitimate demands, present in Attempts to explain why leaders so and independence. " e constitutional all countries, for greater dignity and above quickly turn their back on their promises councils (or the supreme courts, in some all for greater humanity. Man demands found that fear of prosecution, an appetite instances) ‘declare’ the winners of elections that his humanity be respected and pro- for power, and uncertainties about life sometimes contrary to the real expression moted. Political and economic leaders of a $ er power contribute to their desire to of the people’s will. countries % nd themselves placed before hold on to it. " irdly, they seek to exclude citizens important decisions and choices, which Indeed, Wade’s attempt to hold on to perceived as favouring opposition move- they can no longer avoid. power a$ er completing his two terms (12 ments from the voter’s roll while in& ating ‘I launch an appeal to all political and years) has been one of the biggest tests of the numbers of voters loyal to the ruling economic leaders of African countries political stability this year. While his elite. and the rest of the world. Do not deprive a rgument might be constitutionally valid, Finally, they deploy special army units your peoples of hope. Do not cut them o! it is ethically controversial and has caused to violently repress any attempt at popular from their future by mutilating their pre- serious social upheaval and political protest. " e violent clashes that followed sent. Adopt a courageous ethical approach con& ict in Senegal. the elections in the DRC, Liberia, Senegal to your responsibilities.’

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he discourse about ‘respon- centrism and exclusionist politics of the sibility to protect’ (R2P) as a minority Sunni. global norm was particularly " e uprising for democratic reform underscored by the Rwan- was brutally suppressed by King Hamad’s dan genocide, which pricked police and buttressed by the declaration of the conscience of the world martial law and a three-month state of to say ‘never again’. emergency from mid-March 2011. T" e United Nations (UN) General Furthermore, the Gulf Cooperation Assembly’s 2005 World Summit, which Council (GCC) Saudi-led Peninsular built on the work of the International Shield Force (composed of 1 000 Saudi Commission on Intervention and State troops and 500 United Arab Emirates Sovereignty (ICISS), serves as a useful police) intervened, not to protect vulner- FESTUS B ABOAGYE benchmark for concrete attempts by the able Shiite populations but to support the UN and the international community to government in imposing its will on the gain traction for R2P. people. Yet it would be incorrect to assume Bahrain, at least for the moment, that R2P has been % rmly established as a appears to have escaped vehement calls global norm and a universally applied for any R2P intervention. practice in international politics. CONTROVERSIAL R2P IN LIBYA WHEN TO INTERVENE? Undoubtedly the most signi% cant R2P " e Arab Spring provides the most recent episode last year was Libya, involving the R2P test cases and some hard lessons con& icting roles and positions of the about the future of this mechanism. League of Arab States and the African " e di! erent responses to the popular Union (AU), as well as the passing of UN protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Security Council (UNSC) Resolution Nothing does more Bahrain and Syria have raised serious 1973, imposing a no-& y zone and author- harm to the wellbeing questions about the principles of R2P, as ising ‘all necessary means to protect civil- well as about the process of determining ians and civilian populated areas, except of society than false the merits, means and methods of inter- for “foreign occupation forces”’, among vention. other measures, as well as the NATO-led hopes or the complete Due to the nature of the involvement agency in its implementation. destruction of faith in of the military in the revolutions in Tuni- It was previously unimaginable to sia and Egypt, to varying degrees, it would think of any form of challenge to Libyan the ability of our seem that there was no need for external strongman Muammar Gadda% ’s four- institutions to uphold intervention of any form. decade rule over a system instituted by Similarly in Yemen, although the him. Here, amid mixed signals of accom- our human freedoms situation remains unsettled, the transfer modation and outrage, Gadda% unleashed and dignity of power following the ousting of former the might of his military on popular president Ali Abdullah Saleh managed to protestors and warned: ‘We are coming appease the popular protests without any and there will be no mercy!’ external military intervention. " is coded message on 18 March was " e Bahraini uprising, however, led to the trigger for the set-piece French air a military operation, although not one inter vention on 19 March that, for all that supported the popular protests. In intents and purposes, halted the onslaught that country, the 14 February revolution against Benghazi, where the protests had re& ected demands for greater Shiite started in mid-February 2011. political freedom, equality, participation " e NATO-led air campaign succeed- and emancipation from the ethno- ed in destroying Libya’s military capabili-

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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 3322 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:242:24 PPMM COMMENT | PEACEKEEPING o uble standards over R2P

ties, but it also provided a cover for the In fact, such inconsistencies as evidenced increasingly armed protestors under the in the caseloads of R2P have served only leadership of the National Transitional to encourage repressive regimes to Council (NTC) to destroy Gadda% ’s hold perpetrate mass atrocities, convinced by on the country by the end of October 2011. the apparent inability of the UN and the " ere are resentments over the NATO international community to take the deci- action as a cover for regime change and not sive, collective action they have pledged. in accordance with the principles of R2P. It is not clear – and some have argued Regrettably, this to be a moral failing – whether R2P predictability is far from NO HELP FOR SYRIANS principles may even have engendered In contrast to the Libyan and Bahraini more con& icts by groups anticipating being a value to which revolutions, which involved varying inter national action in support of their degrees of armed violence, Syria has causes. the UNSC, regional de% ed any form of external military inter- organisations or the vention. " e violent revolution in Syria QUESTIONS OVER EXECUTIVE since late January 2011 is aptly a revolt AUTHORITY international against the dynastic monopoly of political " ere is no debate as such about the community attach any power by the Al Assad family and the primacy of the UNSC in leading on ‘timely Ba’ath party for nearly % ve decades. and decisive’ collective action. However, measure of importance Like Bahrain, however, the Syrian crisis presents a sectarian dimension. While the government whips up fears of Sunni ethnocentrism against Shiite Alawites and other minorities, including Christians, the international community has pointed to Iranian support for the Assad regime. " ere is empirical evidence that the opposition and its Free Syrian Army is be- ing provided with arms and this may well lead to the establishment of de facto mili- tary and air exclusion zones and other forms of interdiction operations to create safe havens for Syrian civilian popula- tions, as well as to aid the insurgency. " is is a more likely outcome, especially following the lack of unanimity in the UNSC.

FALSE HOPES Nothing does more harm to the wellbeing of society than false hopes or the complete destruction of faith in the ability of our institutions to uphold our human free-

doms and dignity. AP PHOTO/MANU BRABO While the emerging norm of R2P may GRAVES IN LIBYA attest to the huge cost in human lives have raised hopes in ending impunity and of the Arab uprising. The writer asks when and how the promoting human rights, inconsistencies principle of R2P should be applied. in its practice have achieved the opposite.

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the lack of broad and su# cient consensus by both permanent and non-permanent within the UNSC and perceptions of its members highlight selective tendencies in double standards in dealing with similar situations of what could reasonably be situations around the world do not con- called mass atrocity. tribute to its own e! ectiveness. " e use of veto power seriously Polarisation within regional organisa- detracts from predictability when, for tions, or divergent or con& icting positions geopolitical reasons, powerful states on the same con& ict by di! erent regional proceed on a path of securing their organisations, or one-sided tendencies regional security, economic and other in- coupled with inequalities within the terests in other parts of the world. " is is UNSC and ‘bullying’ practices by its the most reasonable way in which to power ful members in deciding which explain the double standards in the treat- issues are placed on the agenda, clearly ment of Syria and Libya as opposed to pose great risks to e! ective R2P practice. Yemen and Bahrain, for instance. Empirical evidence suggests that the NO TEMPLATE OUTCOMES UN and the international community may Although R2P principles underscore a ‘case have been a bit hasty in concluding, by case’-based application of collective s h o r t l y a $ er the World Summit, that R2P action, predictability in R2P practice would had become a norm to be invoked in put- serve to achieve at least two useful ends. ting a halt to the speci% ed crimes. Recent First, it would help to guarantee a R2P practices, especially in the context of degre e of certainty, consistency and fair- the Arab Spring, tend to suggest that R2P ness in international politics of ensuring is still at best an emerging norm. global peace and security. The voting patterns Second, state and non-state actors AN EMERGING NORM alike would be certain that they would be R2P does not mean the same thing to all within the UNSC by held to account if and when they reneged stakeholders within the UN system and both permanent and on their responsibility to help prevent the international community. Rather, mass atrocities. It would therefore serve a inconsistencies in the interpretation and non-permanent preventive purpose, consistent with the practice of R2P appear to suggest a tactical principles of R2P, by convincing states of victory for ‘state sovereignty’ in the R2P members highlight predictable consequences for allowing or discourse. " at victory could only serve to selective tendencies in being complicit in mass atrocities. keep or propel the normative R2P Regrettably, predictability is far from discourse to the strategic centre stage of situations of what could being a value to which the UNSC, regional international politics. reasonably be called organisations or the international com- " is calls for guarded optimism and munity attach any measure of importance. avoidance of any quick assumption that mass atrocity Among other factors, national self- R2P can be invoked in all cases when the interest, lack of political will and deviant ‘right’ criteria are met. More political and behaviour by state and non-state actors, as diplomatic work needs to be done to well as the international community, are to assure all stakeholders of a fair deal in the blame for this sad state of a! airs. practice of R2P. " us, for instance, the GCC countries How, therefore, may the UN, regional have strongly advocated for military organisations and the international action against Syria but remained silent on community resolve the Syrian situation referring the Bahrain situation to the now and deal with situations like those of UNSC. Libya and Côte d’Ivoire in the future? In other words, they only deployed the It is possible that unless consensus is Peninsula Shield to support the Bahraini reached on the interpretation and authorities to put down what they labelled application of R2P, there could be a rise in a rebellion instead of seeing it as a popular insurgencies, or some national, regional protest for the same political rights and and inter national actors may arrogate to freedoms that the people of Syria are themselves the right of ‘humanitarian asking for. inter vention’ and justify the end by the " e voting patterns within the UNSC means.

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African Development Bank DR MOHAMED Ibn Chambas, Secretary looks at global challenges General of the African, Caribbean and Paci" c " e African Development Bank Group Group of States, (AfDB) will hold its annual meetings this which is preparing for year in Arusha, Tanzania, from 28 May to a summit in Malabo. 1 June. " e theme of the 2012 meetings will be Africa and the emerging global landscape: challenges and opportunities. According to the AfDB this will give delegates the opportunity to debate Africa’s changing role in the world as its © EUROPEAN UNION economies continue to grow at faster rates than the rest of the world, and the AfDB’s role in promoting this growth and devel- opment through its projects, operations " e ACP is composed of 79 African, and investments around the continent. ACP heads for Malabo Caribbean and Paci% c states, signatories " e AfDB will also be welcoming con- to the Cotonou Agreement, also known tributions at this meeting towards the for- " e Secretary General of the African, as the “ACP-EC Partnership Agreement” mulation of its new ten-year long-term Caribbean and Paci% c Group of States which binds them to the European Un- strategy for 2013 to 2022. (ACP) Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, says ion. In 2011 the ACP secretariat held its South-South relations will be targeted in % rst ever symposium on South-South re- the lead up to the ACP Heads of State lations between the ACP and IBSA states Summit to be held this December in – India, Brazil and South Africa, which PRESIDENT Equatorial Guinea. led to a Memorandum of Understanding of the African Chambas is the former chairperson signed last December between the ACP Developement of the Economic Community for West Secretariat and Brazil to promote techni- Bank, Donald Kaberuka. African States (Ecowas). cal cooperation and dialogue. MYINVESTORGUIDE.COM

the future of the region,’ the organisation Corporation; Donald Kaberuka, President World Economic Forum says. of the African Development Bank; and moves to Addis " e co-chairs of the meeting include Tidjane " iam, Group Chief Executive, former UN secretary general Ko% Annan, Prudential. " e issues to be discussed will From 9 to 11 May the World Economic who is also chairman of the Alliance for a include strengthening Africa’s leadership; Forum (WEF) meeting on Africa will be Green Revolution in Africa and the Africa accelerating investment in frontier mar- held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa Progress Panel; Gao Xiqing, President and kets; and ‘scaling innovation for shared for the % rst time. Over 600 participants Vice-Chairman of the China Investment opportunities’. will deliberate under the theme Shaping Africa’s Transformation. According to the WEF, Ethiopia, the Other dates: second most populous country in sub- Saharan Africa, is a ‘prime example of the April 21-26: " irteenth session of the continent’s fast-growing economies’. UN Commission on Trade and Develop- ‘Home to the African Union and the ment (UNCTAD) in Doha, Qatar with 13-18 May: World Congress on Water, United Nations Economic Commission the theme Development-centred globali- Climate and Energy in Dublin, Ireland, for Africa, Addis Ababa will o! er an zation: towards inclusive and sustainable organised by the International Water exceptional opportunity to bring together growth and development. Associa tion. global and pan-African leaders to discuss

www.the-african.org APRIL | MAY 2012 35

TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 3355 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:242:24 PPMM BUSINESS It takes more than pristine Tourism could potentially become a huge source of revenue for African countries, writes Dianna Games.

ome of Africa’s best natural For example, in the 2011 World Eco- as on its mountains, lakes and ski resorts. beauty is observed in books nomic Forum Tourism Competitiveness It also has decent hotels with online book- about war. Foreign hacks and Survey, Botswana, a prime tourist destina- ing facilities in even the tiniest villages. soldiers of fortune o$ en write tion in Africa, was ranked 6th of 139 In Africa, public transport in general is about the wonderful land- countries for its protected areas such as not for the faint hearted, as South African scapes they see as they traipse the Okavango Swamps, and 27th for the Sihle Khumalo writes in his book Heart of Sthrough war-torn areas. quality of its natural environment. Africa. Khumalo takes various modes of " e beaches, rivers and forests of It also scored well in areas such as public transport from Johannesburg to East countries such as Sierra Leone, the Demo- policies in the tourism and travel industry, Africa and writes about his experiences, cratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and strong property rights, visa requirements which include chaotic transport schedules, Gabon, among others, are hardly captured and the time to start a business. However, % lthy trains, bus drivers with a death wish in the literature on tourist attractions in in the overall rankings it came only fourth and sub-standard hotels. Africa. " ey are o$ en in remote places on the continent and 91st in the world. that lack facilities, transport, security and " e factors that brought it down had Beautiful beaches, glorious other comforts that average tourists would nothing to do with its obvious natural expect to % nd when spending their pre- a t t r a c t i o n s . " ey included an under- waterfalls and lush forests cious leisure dollars. But even in more eas- developed tourism infrastructure and are not enough. Outside ily accessible locations in east and south- what was described as the worst quality of ern Africa, tourism is a long way from aviation infrastructure in the world. It was the adventure market, reaching its full potential. even marked down for having too few tourists have myriad other ATM machines. A LITTLE-UNDERSTOOD INDUSTRY requirements African ministers and o# cials o$ en cite TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE tourism as a signi% cant area of potential CRUCIAL Some countries have got it right. South future growth. Most countries now have " e top performers in sub-Saharan Africa Africa is one of them. It has natural attrac- tourism agencies and ministries – but were Mauritius and South Africa, which tions as well as competitive pricing, good o $ en there is little idea of how tourism came 53rd and 61st respectively in the hotels throughout the price ranges, road, a c t u a l l y w o r k s . " is little-understood WEF rankings, followed by Namibia. rail and air transport connections and the industry reaches well beyond a country’s Among the many factors taken into many other things that make up the tour- natural attractions. account, apart from those listed above, ism chain – even though its success is com- Having interesting historical sites or were the state of hospitals, availability of promised by crime statistics. scenic attractions is a necessary, but not doctors, safety and security, price Zimbabwe was a premier tourism su# cient, requirement for a tourism competitive ness, condition of roads and drawcard in the region for many years. industry. It is a crosscutting sector that availability of hotel rooms. While its tourist facilities have largely covers almost every aspect of a country’s Switzerland, which came top of the stood up to the political turbulence, tour- development, from the political situation list, has a tourism industry built as much ist numbers have plummeted in the wake and frequency of & ights down to the avail- on its transport infrastructure – an inter- of negative publicity over the govern- ability of certain foodstu! s, depending on locking and extensive network of good ment’s actions. Neighbouring Zambia, the target market. roads and world-class high-speed trains – which has attracted many of Zimbabwe’s

A HOT AIR BALLOON takes off with tourists over the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya. The writer believes tourism can be a huge source of revenue if African countries manage this well.

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beaches Tourism around the world is heading into the doldrums as the Eurozone crisis and soft US economy hit the spending power of Western tourists,

visitors to its improved o! erings at Victo- cruises, barging and sailing are big who have long dominated the ria Falls, has a patchy record in tourism in tourist attractions in Europe and tourist trade in Africa the rest of the country. other regions, Africa’s water- East Africa remains a popular tourist ways remain workhorses rather destination but the downsides include its than a source of fun. scru! y airports, public transport that is Few countries have got the policy community initiatives that draw local peo- not easy for foreigners to negotiate, i ssues right to attract tour- ple into commercial ventures either on crime (particularly in Nairobi) ism (always a risky their own land or alongside it. " is has and dated tourist o! erings sector because of many positive spino! s, including skills outside the expensive its reliance on training, revenue generation and environ- high-end products. d i s p o s a b l e i n - mental protection, as tourist ventures try " e former French comes as well to maintain pristine landscapes to provide colonies in West Africa, as on issues of maximum value to paying tourists. notably Senegal and the peace and se- Tourism around the world is heading Gambia, have built a curity), which into the doldrums as the Eurozone crisis strong tourism market on are beyond the and so$ US economy hit the spending the back of sun-seekers from control of tourist power of Western tourists, who have long Europe. Elsewhere in the re- operators. dominated the tourist trade in Africa. gion, Ghana is alone in Another problem developing a tourist infrastructure, has been the tendency A TOUGH MARKET but it is a drop in the ocean compared of governments to insist Even countries with a broad inter national to what it could be. on having national carriers, o! ering, such as South Africa, Mauritius, regardless of their pro% tability. the Seychelles and Kenya, rely to a large BUSINESS TOURISM In most cases, saving the na- extent on the money brought in by tourists Business tourism is a major driver of visi- tional airline has meant reducing or cut- from ‘developed’ countries, despite in- tor numbers in West Africa. Given the ris- ting o! any competition and failing to ad- creasing numbers of visitors from emerg- ing number of expatriates seconded to here to the open skies agreements signed ing economies such as China. countries such as Nigeria, little is being by most African countries more than a Tourism is global and that is the done to cultivate attractions for what is es- decade ago. biggest problem for African countries. sentially a captive audience. Even though several countries have Beautiful beaches, glorious waterfalls and Countries have failed to capitalise on developed a healthy income stream from lush forests are not enough. Outside the the lucrative MICE (meetings, incentives, their national parks, most of these huge adventure market, tourists have myriad conferences and exhibitions) industry, of- swathes of land lie almost untouched from other requirements. ten because of inadequate capacity and a revenue point of view. Animals have Countries have to deliver not only run-down facilities, as well as inadequate been poached or driven out by drought, or more than the country next door but also air links. they remain hidden inside untouched for- more than competing destinations in the " ere is also a limited amount of tourist ests that contain no roads or accommoda- rest of the world. Governments would do development along the continent’s long tion facilities. well to remember this in their policy for- beaches and its other waterways. While river Another underexplored issue is that of mulations and incentive structures. © GORAN TOMASEVIC / REUTERS © GORAN

www.the-african.org APRIL | MAY 2012 37

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TOBACCO, which is known in Zimbabwe as the ‘golden leaf’, has in the past earned the country 50% of its foreign currency and export revenues. © HOWARD BURDITT / REUTERS © HOWARD Promise of a good tobacco season in Zim Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry is slowly improving after having been almost totally destroyed due to the mass evictions of commercial farmers. Barnabas Thondhlana reports that small-scale farmers are hoping for higher prices this year due to lower volumes in other countries.

he old adage that one man’s loss is According to Tobacco Industry kg. " e opening price was $4.45/kg and the another man’s fortune rings partic- Marketing Board (TIMB) CEO Andrew lowest was $1.70. " e average tobacco price ularly true for Zimbabwe’s tobacco Matibiri, this year’s crop is likely to fetch last year was $2.28/kg. " is year’s deliveries T farmers. While & oods have wrought higher prices since Brazil’s production is are expected to reach 150 million kg, com- havoc on the crops in top world producer expected to decline by 150 million kg. pared to 132 million last year. Brazil, this has come as a boom for the Zimbabwe’s tobacco-selling season com- Zimbabwe is the largest producer of nearly 60 000 growers of the golden leaf in menced mid-February with & ue-cured tobacco leaf in Africa and the world’s this southern African country. Virginia leaf selling for as much as US$4.75/ fourth-largest producer of & ue-cured

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tobacco, a$ er China, Brazil and the US. " e India, which does not produce & ue-cured a maximum of two hours. country produces two types of tobacco leaf, tobacco, is at 120 million kg, he said. Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irriga- Burley and Virginia, the latter being in ma- Matibiri also said that China was ex- tion Development Minister Joseph Made jor demand by manufacturers. pected to dominate this year’s sale. Al- appealed for price consistency during the though the country produced 2 billion kg, rest of the marketing season. ‘Previous SLOW RECOVERY making it the world’s leading tobacco experience shows that high prices only pre- Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s major foreign- manufacturer, this quantity did not satisfy vail during the early part of the season,’ currency earner, accounting for more than its market so it has been forced to import Made said at the opening of the auction 50% of agricultural exports and 10% of the the crop from elsewhere. & oors. ‘It is my expectation that this year country’s GDP. Industry o# cials estimate that a third will see a consistent pricing and purchasing Output is slowly improving, following a of the Zimbabwean tobacco crop, or around pattern that ensures the viability of growers.’ decline prompted by President Robert 40 million kg, was taken up by China last Economist John Robertson cautioned Mugabe’s o$ en violent land reforms, which year. " e country imported a total of 120 however that despite such gains, Zimbabwe he said were meant to address colonial im- million kg last year and is seeking to has far to go to reclaim production levels balances between white landowners and increase its local tobacco trade volumes. seen in the late 1990s. ‘Some of the sellers the black majority. are coming to the tobacco & oors early this " e southern African country’s tobacco AN EARLY RUSH year but I think they are concerned that the yield plunged from a peak of 236 million kg " e industry regulator says that 35 000 prices might fall later in the season.’ in 2000 to just 48 million in 2007/8. Zimba- tobacco growers have registered to sell bwe produced 119 million kg of tobacco in their crop. While the auction houses have AUCTION HOUSES UP THE STAKES the 2009/10 season, double the previous advised growers to book their sales in Zimbabwe’s tobacco is mostly sold year’s output, and 123 million last year. advance, many farmers disregard this as through auction. " e four auction houses And yields have slowly been increasing, they make haste to sell during the opening – Boka Tobacco Auction Floors, Millen- following the decision by small-scale farm- days of the marketing season to cash in on nium Tobacco Floors, Premier Tobacco ers to cease maize production in favour of the good opening prices. Auction Floors and Tobacco Sales Floor tobacco. " is is mainly due to the fact that – will carry out auctions in tobacco farmers are paid on the spot, while It is my expectation that this Harare. Two companies, © HOWARD BURDITT / REUTERS © HOWARD for maize deliveries to the state-owned Marcopine Karoi and Grain Marketing Board farmers have to year will see a consistent pricing Marondera Group, have wait months on end before payment. applied for auction licences According to o# cial % gures, over and purchasing pattern that for outside Harare. 40 000 small-scale black farmers produced ensures the viability of growers Boka, Premier and Mil- 70% of the tobacco crop. " e tobacco regis- lennium have between ter at the TIMB this year included the them invested nearly US$6 names of more than 66 000 growers. " e During the last marketing season, a million in infrastructure development. remainder of the crop is produced by large- serious decline in the average price occurr ed Rudo Boka, MD of Boka Tobacco Sales scale commercial farmers, of whom just at about eight weeks into the season, lead- Floors, said there would be nine banks at over 120 are white. In all, there remain ing to withdrawals of tobacco from sales. the & oors. ‘We are also trying to encourage about 400 white farmers, from a peak of Local tobacco continues to be in great de- a culture for growers to use banks rather 4 500 prior to the land seizures in 2000. mand because of its characteristic superior than to move around with large amounts & avour. TIMB chairperson Monica China- of cash.’ A LUCRATIVE CHINESE MARKET masa said the tobacco marketing season Premier Tobacco Auction Floors man- As well as the drop in Brazilian produc- had opened earlier than previous seasons. aging director Philemon Mangena said tion, the US crop was also a! ected and is She also said that previous seasons had they were ready for this year’s marketing down by 50 million kg. ‘" ese are our been characterised by relentless congestion, season. " e company has poured in $1.2 main competitors,’ said Matibiri. but with four auction & oors licensed this million for refurbishments. Matibiri also said that Malawi’s produc- year the situation was bound to be better. Tobacco Sales Floor chief executive tion was below 190 million kg and, because ‘To achieve orderly marketing, growers o# cer James Mutambanesango said the it did not produce Virginia tobacco, it com- should play their part as well. It is inexcus- company had improved on a number of peted with Zimbabwe only on the Burley able for growers to deliver tobacco without areas to reduce congestion. ‘We have man- tobacco market. All tobacco grown in Zim- prior booking or, as in some cases, without aged to make more accommodation avail- babwe is sold on the auction & oors in Ha- even renewing their growers’ registration able apart from the tent we usually pitch.’ rare as unprocessed green leaf. with TIMB,’ said Chinamasa. Millenium Tobacco chief executive Tanzanian tobacco will remain the " e time between conclusion of sales o # cer Richard Chabata said the company same as last year at 80 million kg, while and payment of growers should not exceed had spent $2.5 million on refurbishment.

www.the-african.org APRIL | MAY 2012 39

TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 3399 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:252:25 PPMM AFRICAN FUTURES

Traffi c accidents in Africa are expected to soar over the next four decades, becoming a major public health challenge across the continent. However, Mark Eshbaugh, Greg Maly and Jonathan D Moyer predict that this could be dramatically reduced if the correct policy decisions are made in time.

Putting the brakes on traffi c

urrently, road tra# c accidents worldwide claim an estimated 1.4 million lives a year and injure an C additional 20-50 million people. By 2050, the International Futures forecasting model anticipates that global tra# c deaths will surpass 3 million people a year. " e forecast shows that Africa will be particularly hard hit, and will account for over a million deaths, or 35% of the global total. To put this in perspective, by 2050, tra# c accidents will kill almost the same number of people in Africa a year as now die from HIV/Aids in east and southern Africa combined. For every 20 Africans who die in 2050, one will be killed in a tra# c collision. In response to this growing public health threat, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon launched the Decade of Action civil society organisations, businesses and As GDP per capita rises for Road Safety 2011-2020, calling on community leaders to promote e! orts to member states, international agencies, curb rising tra# c injuries and fatalities. and households earn more Due to increasing motorisation and disposable income, coun- IF EFFECTIVE POLICY lagging infrastructure development, road INTERVENTIONS WERE tra# c injuries in Latin America, Asia and tries experience a dramatic IMPLEMENTED FOR THE especially Africa are now serious cause for SAKE OF ROAD SAFETY IN concern. In Africa, vehicle and road densi- increase in the number of AFRICA, BETWEEN NOW ties, poor infrastructure, minimal regula- vehicles on the road AND 2050: tion, inadequate oversight and inconsist- ent research also exacerbate road tra# c 4.2 million traf" c deaths would injuries. Additionally, in the absence of pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and public be prevented regulated public transportation, most transport riders. Even so, most interven- Africans rely on unregulated taxi or buses, tions made to reduce tra# c accidents are 144 million years’ worth of which o$ en incentivise fast driving in targeted at private vehicles rather than productive, healthy lives would be saved under-serviced vehicles and & outing VRUs. extant tra# c safety regulations. " e push by Ban Ki-moon for all US$234 billion would be added A signi% cant portion of Africa’s road countries to implement national tra# c to the continental GDP fatalities involve what are known as strategies and build monitoring institu- ‘vulnerable road users’ (VRUs), including tions is a good step toward dealing with

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tra# c-related mortality. " e Decade of During this lag, countries typically ROAD TRAFFIC INJURY Action could succeed in directing atten- experience the largest increase in tra# c FATALITY RATES PER tion and resources towards road safety in injuries and fatalities, demonstrating that 100 000 PEOPLE the developing world. " is article explores this is an issue that should be understood what could happen if initiatives like this through a developmental lens. Region Average have a signi% cant impact in Africa. Currently, vehicle ownership in Africa fatalities stands at around 100 licensed vehicles per Africa 32.2 1 000 people, but this number is expected Americas 15.8 to reach 170 by 2050. South-East Asia 16.6 Eastern Mediterranean 32.2 WHAT CAN BE DONE? Europe 13.4 Using the International Futures model, the Western Paci" c 15.6 fatalities researchers were able to develop and World average 18.8 compare the base case with an improved scenario. " e base case continues many of tra# c fatalities and 90% of disability- the policies and trends of the past two adjusted life years lost (DALYs) occur in decades, but also contains new structural low- and middle-income countries. constraints, such as climate change, peak oil and government spending. " e im- proved scenario prevents death rates from RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN exceeding 32 in 100 000 (the current conti- DEVELOPMENT AND TRAFFIC nental average) until 2050, despite signi% - ACCIDENT BURDEN: cant increases in tra# c over the period. High " e IFs base case expects that, for c every 100 000 people in Africa, 48 will die " in tra# c accidents in 2050. However, by simulating best practices in road tra# c policies, our improved scenario expects

that only 32 per 100 000 people will die in Accidents tra# c accidents in 2050. By comparing the Blue lineline – lossloss of llifeife at ddifferentifferent base case to the improved scenario, we see levels of develodevelopmentpment Red line – costcost of trtrafaf" c aaccidentsccidents Human and Financial Cost of Traf that Africa could save up to 4.2 million at different levels of developmentdevelopment people (between 2010 and 2050) by in- Low Economic Development High INSURANCECHAT.CO.ZA creasing road safety and thereby reducing tra# c fatalities. Over the past two decades, the burden Eleven African countries would experi- " e red line represents the loss of of communicable disease – such as HIV/ ence cumulative reductions in tra# c deaths material resources and the impact of Aids, tuberculosis and malaria – has been of more than 100 000 people through 2050, tra# c accidents on economic growth at widely recognised a development issue, led by Nigeria (689 000), Ethiopia (566 000) various stages of development. Figure 1 disproportionately a! ecting low-income and the Democratic Republic of the Congo shows that while the death rate declines at countries. (332 000). " e improved scenario also certain levels of development, the While the relationship is not as imme- shows a major relative reduction in years of economic burden does not – tra# c diately obvious, road tra# c accidents are life lost from tra# c accidents, falling by accidents in higher-income countries have also a development issue. Generally speak- 119.8 million years (cumulatively) across a hugely negative e! ect on GDP. ing, as GDP per capita rises and house- Africa through 2050. " is is mirrored by " e blue line represents how low- holds earn more disposable income, coun- the reduction in disability-adjusted life income countries with few vehicles on the tries experience a dramatic increase in the years of 144 million years across the conti- road have a small number of tra# c number of vehicles on the road. nent from now until 2050. a c c i d e n t s . " en we see tra# c fatalities grow Very o$ en, such increases in road It is clear that reducing tra# c-related rapidly during the middle-income stage of t r a # c are not matched by adequate deaths will have a very positive e! ect on development. " erea$ er, countries experi- improvements in infrastructure and road both human development and economic ence a drop in tra# c accidents, as infra- safety legislation. " is results in a lag growth, attesting to the need for African structure improves to accommodate between private expenditure on vehicles leaders to pay more attention to this issue. motorisation, road rules become embedded and the public expenditure necessary to ac- Despite accounting for only 48% of the norms and fewer dangerous, unmaintained commodate increased motorisation. world’s registered vehicles, 91% of annual vehicles remain in operation.

www.the-african.org APRIL | MAY 2012 41

TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 4411 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:252:25 PPMM CUISINE When next you are in Luanda

Culinary expert Hennie Fisher explored the best eateries the city has to offer during a trip to the Angolan capital.

visit to Luanda takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions and contrasts. On the one hand is the obvious inability of the city A HENNIE FISHER management to deal with the many mil- DELICIOUS Portuguese custard tarts or Pasteis de Nata lions living in a place designed for only a to try in Luanda’s many coffee shops and restaurants. couple of hundred thousand people; and on the other the Angolans’ zest for life. Enjoying life is something that Luan- It is a beautiful, small restaurant with cooking techniques along with those dans do very well. Once you’ve looked be- wood-panelled walls that serves funge and brought to the country by the Portuguese. yond the litter and digested the exorbitantly side dishes, bu! et style. Cassava funge is It is a heady mix of Mediterranean and Af- high food prices, you can experience and not for the faint hearted and requires an rican that o! ers the diner a multitude of enjoy the many layers of pleasure and fun understanding of how a bland starch acts sensory experiences. One of the best plac- that the Luandan dinner table presents. as a vehicle for other tastes and textures. es to experience this food is at one of those Luandan cuisine is solidly rooted in a restaurants where food is selected from a TRULY LOCAL combination of indigenous foods and bu! et and then weighed. It is still a stag- Traditionally, the main meal of the day is geringly expensive experience, calculated eaten at lunch, o$ en accompanied by a Follow Rua Massano at around $38 – $40 per kilo, but you can l ocal beer; try Cuca, light, golden and experience superb examples of local food mellow at 4,5% alcohol per volume, or de Amorim and look for this way, such as feijão preto (black bean N’Gola or Eka from the provinces of soup); arroz de senhoras (a rice and carrot Lubango and Dondo respectively. row upon row of little dish); and mufete (beans in palm oil). Meals are o$ en served with ‘funge’ shack restaurants (pronounced ‘foonge’), a type of porridge SEAFOOD AT ANY PRICE starch prepared from either cassava or called Barracas that Seafood features prominently in the Luan- maize. Should you not have access to the offer an array of grilled dan diet and locals will go to great lengths table of a city resident, visit the Funge for it. " e Ilha do Cabo has many restau- House restaurant at Avenida Lenin no. 35. sidewalk food rants along its length where patrons can

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a view over the Atlantic on one side and a of annoying bugs. But there are also smart- harbour scene on the other, with er places on the harbour side of the Ilha, consequently massive di! erences in price. such as the Cais de Quatro restaurant, Avoid getting caught up in the touristy which is split over two levels and o! ers hangouts and restaurants on the beaches some of the best city and harbour views and instead venture to the other side to eat from its top-& oor wooden deck. HENNIE FISHER with the locals; meals o$ en cost a third or " e Chikala district, also less pricy SEAFOOD features prominently even a quarter of the price. and more informal, is on a side arm of the in Angolan cuisine. Of course, choosing the less expensive Ilha do Cabo. Reach it by following Rua side of the Ilha has its disadvantages insofar Massano de Amorim and look for row sample delicious grilled octopus, calamari, as the view is limited to the large oil tankers upon row of little shack restaurants called prawns and other locally caught % sh. on the opposite side of the harbour. " ere is Barracas that o! er an array of grilled side- Going down Avenue Murtala Moham- also the continuous onslaught of CD ven- walk food. " e sidewalks are where much ed, a % nger-like outcrop into the sea, o! ers dors to contend with, as well as the hordes of everyday life in happens here, and

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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 4433 DELICIOUS Eritrean cuisine at Asmara Restau 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:252:25 PPMM CUISINE

where one should venture in order to experience the true spirit of Luanda. " e cafés and pastry shops dotted around the city provide a real insight into how Luandan people live, socialise and in- teract – try the Arabica Café behind the Banco de Poupançae Crédito for fabulous spinach pasteia, croissants or % lled focca- cia, or go for spectacular views and rather expensive espressos from the top-& oor deck of the Maianga Hotel. Great co! ee can be found at the Pastel- ria Mirapassos on the Largo Guilherme Ribeiro Pereira, also in Maianga, while the Bolo de Coco on Rua Emilio M’Bindi in Alvalado o! ers another version of prego (a bifana made from pork), a coconut bun or

a rabanada (a type of French toast). HENNIE FISHER Another hot-drinks bar is Oito Dezoi- OCTOPUS kebabs to sample at your leisure. to, which o! ers views of the old bank building and the main drag of the city. If Do not leave Angola without breaking located in the Escom Building on Rua you are into late-night fun, most of the the bank at least one time. " ough Oon. Marechal Bros Tito in the Muncípio de area’s many clubs organise special events dah restaurant represents the top end of Patrice, and you can glimpse the sea from on " ursday and Saturday nights, when % ne dining, it is extraordinary how rela- its verandah. you can party until % ve or six in the morn- tively inexpensive it is compared to other At the entrance to the restaurant there ing. Follow the locals’ example and end an eateries: $250 paid for drinks (including a is a small food hall stocking pâtés, jams, evening of dancing and merrymaking great bottle of French chablis), two start- honeys and other gourmet items. " e res- with a special ‘hangover soup’. ers, three mains and co! ees. Oon.dah is taurant itself is elegantly appointed, with a long white banquette along one wall facing an open sushi bar. Starter options include a contemporary gazpacho served with crab croquettes and pata negra ham, or a simple plate of sushi made from local tuna

and prawns. Main courses are slightly less innovative but showcase more traditional fare in a modern style, such as the babalu with beans, an Asian noodle dish, or the gourmet burger. Desserts include a carrot roulade that re& ects the multi-cultural na- ture of Luanda’s cuisine. Luanda is a city o! ering great food, fun-loving people and a social vibe that SCARLET aubergines few other African cities can rival. HENNIE FISHER

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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 4444 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:252:25 PPMM BOOKS | PROFILE Daring to challenge Muslim taboos

er characters, most o$ en women, are, in a sense, trapped. Crushed between past and present, conven- H tion and rebellion, tradition and freedom, the individuals in Leïla Mar- ouane’s novels inexorably see their dreams shattered against the great wall of Algerian society. If they seek an escape – in studies say, or in a boyfriend, or in whatever else Algerian writer Leïla might alleviate the sinking feeling of a wast- Marouane denounces the ing life – it is later to be thwarted by the shame and rejection of the ones they hold taboos of Algerian society most dear: their mother, sisters or friends. in her novels, which have Relentlessly, Marouane’s heroines % nd themselves trapped between the betrayal of won wide acclaim, writes the elite, who spend their time in power de- Hadrien Diez. She was laying the reforms they once promised, and the bigotry of opponents, whose vision of a the guest of honour at society conforming to the scriptures barely the Time of the Writer includes a place for women. Exposing tragedies too real not to be true with a vivid international writers’ style and a ferocious sense of humour – festival in Durban in consider the title of her most recent novel; " e Sexual Life of an Islamist in Paris – theatres, to public gardens and restau- March. Marouane writes as she would shout, out of rants, alone or accompanied. And nobody disgust and despair. would % nd fault,’ Marouane recalls about the years directly following the revolution. A REVOLUTIONARY LEGACY In this context, graduating in medicine Born in 1960 to a female resistance % ghter and literature was not only a personal in hiding from both her imposed husband achievement, it was also the ful% lment of and the French army, Leïla Marouane is a generations of women’s dreams whose daughter of the Algerian revolution. " e countless sacri% ces had not been made in hard-headed movement promoted gender vain. But the high spirits of the early years equality and invited women to take o! the slowly crumbled, and the revolutionary religious veil, determined to shake the pa- ideals of emancipation soon made space for triarchal order set up by tradition and co- a political landlock that fostered another lonial rule. ‘I remember young women type of resistance, one based on religious passing by on their bicycles, the most af- values and Islamic traditions. & uent driving their own cars, all wearing True to her personal legacy, Marouane trousers and short skirts, sunglasses and fought back. As a journalist in Algiers, she lipstick. " ey were going to cinemas and denounced the taboos of Algerian society:

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the condition of Muslim wives, the status of " e disoriented Hadda of La Fille de la erful weapon against the horrors she de- unmarried mothers, the fate of abandoned Casbah (still to be translated) wandering nounces. If Samira’s father is so prone to children. " e pressure on her was tremen- the streets of Algiers on a Friday a$ ernoon anger, it is because he lost his wife through dous, though. ‘Your last article (…) brings is hard to forget. Having just learnt that she his own fault. Having repudiated her, he disgrace on you,’ she remembers from one is pregnant, the young, unmarried woman soon realises his mistake and tries to get her of the many insulting letters she received at desperately tries to reach her boyfriend back. " e problem is that Islamic law for- that time. ‘You have studied in order to rep- while having to confront public humilia- bids a direct remarriage between the two, resent the Algerian woman with dignity, a tion, for women should not be seen walk- unless the wife is % rst remarried to another woman who is Muslim above all, and not to ing outside during the Muslim holy day. man and then again repudiated. A complex lose your personality and culture for one Some of her characters simply cannot imbroglio follows, leading ultimately to the that is Western and degrading.’ bear the pressure. Faced with the loathing defeat of the tyrant. of their closest relatives, overwhelmed by Mockery and tragedy always intermingle A HEALING PROCESS social reprobation, they slowly succumb to in Marouane’s texts, o$ en leaving the read- Having escaped a physical assault that madness. In Abductor, the narrator Samira er with a mixed sense of delusion and hope. almost took her life, Marouane & ed to Zeitoun is harshly beaten and half scalped In her free, unconventional style, Marouane Europe at the beginning of the 1990s. She by her own father for an alleged imperti- exposes the pleas of a society that has lost started to write % ction as a way of healing nence. Dis% gured and abandoned, she its moral compass and looks for it in the and an attempt to put her tormented years starts inventing a world of her own, a para- wrong place. " is is a society where women in perspective. Within her % ve novels – of noid universe where people are no longer are both victims and heroines. By narrating which three have been translated into who they claim to be. their painful destinies, the author coura- English – some unbearably cruel scenes Yet in the same novel, Marouane dis- geously claims the long overdue revolution- clearly carry the mark of the moral and plays the scathing humour that is another ary promise of freedom and equality. physical oppression the author herself had distinctive trait of her writing. " e author’s " is article was # rst published on the Intofrench website to su! er. sense of irony verges on the absurd; a pow- http://www.intofrench.org. Stories from the heart

he republished version of award-winning Nigerian author Ben Okri’s Dangerous Love is a welcome edition to the Penguin African Writers T Series. It is a tragic love story set in a poverty-stricken part of Nigeria. Its Dangerous Love main character, Omova, is a troubled young o# ce worker and artist from a by Ben Okri broken family who lives with a father and stepmother who reject him. He % nds Penguin Books, 20111 comfort in his paintings and his love for Ifeyiwa, a woman trapped in a loveless marriage to a much older abusive husband. Reviewed by Reading these pages you feel almost as though you are there, hearing the Helen Chanda sounds and tasting the dust in the streets of Omova’s village.

he characters of the delightful Baking Cakes in Kigali have now moved to Swaziland in this follow-up novel by Gaile Parkin. T Against the background of a country facing economic hardship, the sscourge of HIV/Aids, restrictive customs and the authoritarian whims of KKing Mswati III, the reader discovers life through the eyes of young Ben- eedict, the son of Mr and Mrs Tungaraza, originally from Tanzania. " e story is funny, well-told and, like Parkin’s previous book, in the same vein as Alexander McCall Smith’s best-selling No.1 Ladies Detective When Hoopoes go to Agency series. Apart from a few errors (like the hugely exaggerated use Heaven by Gaile Parkinn of the South African ‘né’, ‘ag’ and ‘hey man’), the writer seems to have a Corvus Books, 2012 good grip on local customs and language. Reviewed by Liesl Louw-- " e publishers are not far wrong with their claim that ‘this book will Vaudran restore your faith in humanity.’

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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 4466 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:252:25 PPMM BOOKS | REVIEW Chronicle of a proud history

trains to % nd work in the ‘New York’ of Af- She goes on to describe the characters Heidi Holland, 100 Years of rica, as Holland satirically puts it. and personalities that shaped the ANC’s Struggle: Mandela’s ANC political direction. " ese accounts are in- Penguin Books, 2011 REPRESENTING THE terwoven into the series of events that un- Reviewed by Refi loe Joala DISENFRANCHISED folded, from the electoral victory of the It was in 1911, upon the return of Oxford- National Party in 1948 through the de% - educated Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme, that the ance campaign in the 1950s, the subse- ournalist and writer Heidi Holland, disenfranchisement of blacks in this coun- quent banning of the ANC, the 1956-61 author of the internationally try was formally articulated in a confer- Treason Trial, the armed struggle and the acclaimed Dinner with Mugabe, also ence that led to the birth on 8 January establishment of the international net- J wrote " e Struggle: A History of the 1912 of the South African Na- work. African National Congress, which was pub- tive National Congress (SAN-SAN- lished in London in 1989 before the ban NC), the country’s % rst blackblack BEHIND THE against the party and its leaders was li$ ed. political movement, withh the SCENES " e book was published in South Africa in aim of increasing the rightsghts Holland also gives the 1990, in the same week as Nelson Mandela of South Africa’s black pop-op- reader an insight into was released from prison. ulation. the internal struggles In the build-up to the ANC’s centenary " e movement wasas that the leadership had to celebration on 8 January 2012, as signs of later renamed the Africann overcome, thus providing the party’s declining popularity among vir- National Congress ass an objective view of the tually every grouping across the South Af- members of other racial di! erent personalities in rican demographic became increasingly groupings, including tthe party and their opposing evident, the key question was whether the ‘coloureds’ and Indians, idideologies. nation’s loyalty to its liberation movement found themselves bearingaring the In her behind-the-scenes would continue to guarantee it support in brunt of the country’s racially organised so- descriptions of the events that the years to come. ciety. With the growth of the so-called mid- took place from the 1970s and 1980s to the In 100 Years of Struggle: Mandela’s ANC, dle class, the membership of the ANC release of Mandela, Holland tells the stories Holland gives a human face to the African across the country grew steadily to incor- of ordinary men and women who went to continent’s biggest and oldest liberation porate the interest of the masses, with a extraordinary lengths for the freedom they movement. " e book provides a detailed wider membership comprising chiefs, so desperately craved. Although the title account of the establishment of the ANC as workers and students. may be slightly misleading, in that the nar- a political movement, along with personal rative is not focused primarily on Mandela, histories of the various leaders who carried it does give a multi-layered view of the evo- the organisation and the South African lib- Holland tells the stories lution of the party. " is is particularly per- eration struggle forward. of ordinary men and tinent now, as South Africans have long Beginning in the lush hills of the tiny been so desperate to maintain the illusion Transkei village of Qunu, the reader is in- women who went to of a ‘united nation’ that any mention of the troduced to the formidable young Nelson extraordinary lengths historical and emerging factions of the Rolihlahla Mandela in his early years as a ANC has been deliberately avoided. " e disciplined child and a diligent pupil with a for the freedom they so book comes thus at an opportune time, promising future. calling for the ANC to carefully consider its In stark juxtaposition, Holland takes desperately craved future relevance under growing external the reader on Mandela’s journey from the pressures and widening gaps within the calm nostalgic accounts of the countryside In these early chapters, Holland gives party itself. to the big city of Johannesburg, then a min- rich descriptions of the organisation’s Holland’s book o! ers more than just a ing centre. " e city was the % nal destination members, outlining their backgrounds and glance into the history of Africa’s biggest for many young South Africans hailing the circumstances leading to their role and political movement: it is also an opportu- from the then homelands, travelling for involvement as organisational leaders or nity to consider the future of the South Af- hours and some for days in the tsotsi-run regional coordinators. rican political landscape.

www.the-african.org APRIL | MAY 2012 47

TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 4477 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:252:25 PPMM SIGN OFF STRANGER THAN FICTION An oilman, a diamond dealer, a warlord and a basketball star walk into a New York hotel room. And what comes out is made for the big screen. By Tanya Pampalone

’ve got a great script for a blockbuster Hollywood movie. Here’s the set-up: a US basketball star, known for his massive philan- thropic contributions, sets up a gold deal in a New York hotel room, com- plete with a PowerPoint presentation, with a politically well-connected Texas oilman and a shady Houston-based ball Association circuit, an adored sports- port on the incident that had Lawal in con- diamond dealer. man whose % nger-wagging – his playful travention of UN resolutions that ban indi- A$ er a serious of run-arounds, which admonition towards his opponents in the viduals and corporations from % nancing Ihas the gold going from Kenya to the Dem- game – made him a larger-than-life person- illegal armed groups in the eastern DRC. ocratic Republic of the Congo with nobody ality and reportedly earned him more than And % nally, there’s Bosco Ntaganda, really sure who the true owner of the gold $100 million over his astounding career. He head of said illegal armed group. " e war- actually is, the deal % nally goes sour when a starts a foundation, builds a hospital in Kin- lord who faces allegations of recruiting Congolese warlord, wanted by the Interna- shasa, is mentioned in George W Bush’s child soldiers and presiding over mass rapes tional Criminal Court, meets the plane in 2007 State of the Nation speech as a shining and murder by his troops, in addition to his the lawless eastern DRC town of Goma. In- example of heroic kindness and self-sacri- penchant for smuggling natural resources, stead of handing over the gold to the buy- % ce, only to shock the sporting world by his is also the likely recipient of much of those ers, the warlord seizes the plane and carts central involvement in setting up the scam. tens of millions of dollars from Lawal. But, o! the diamond dealer, who is released al- " ere’s Kase Lawal, a Nigerian-born oil then, he might not have been acting alone. most two months later, but only a$ er $3 tycoon. He’s served as a trade advisor to St Mary tells a prominent UK newspaper million in ‘% nes’ are paid to the govern- both former US President Bill Clinton and that while he was being detained at the ment. In the end, the oilman, who % nanced Barack Obama. In his native Nigeria, he sat Goma airport, Ntaganda was on the phone the deal, is out of pocket by more than $30 on President Goodluck Jonathan’s presi- with DRC President Joseph Kabila, ‘arguing million – bribes, transport costs, upfront dential advisory council. In South Africa, over how to split the cash’. payments – and doesn’t have one single he’s been a funder of President Jacob Zuma’s Great script, huh? " ing is, I don’t think ounce of gold to show for it. charitable foundation and educational anyone would ever buy it. Not in Holly- " e plot is fast-paced, intense, all play- trust. But he’s also been accused of conspir- wood, at least. " e story line is entirely un- ing out over a few months in late 2010 and ing to steal an oil block in Nigeria, pumping believable, even if the whole thing is true. early 2011, in upmarket hotel rooms in the million of barrels of oil from it – although Besides, the ending is too depressing. " e US, exclusive private parties in Texas, he was never prosecuted and has consist- bad guy wins, and the hero isn’t a hero at all. customs warehouses in Kenya and on a ently denied the allegations. " e moral of the story? Africa isn’t for military tarmac in Goma. " e shady diamond dealer was a cadet sissies and corruption is global. And it But it is the characters, really, that make at the prestigious West Point military acad- appears that it doesn’t matter how politi- the whole story pop. emy who grew up in Houston, Texas, before cally connected you are around the globe, At centre court is Dikembe Mutombo. gaining a reputation for his penchant for or how much money you’ve got stashed In 1987, the towering Mutombo, who was risky deals in Africa. Carlos St Mary was away in Swiss bank accounts. In the end, it born in Kinshasa, wins a pre-med scholar- already % ngered in a lawsuit brought by in- all comes back to basics. " e guys with the ship to Georgetown University in Washing- vestors he had failed to repay in a diamond biggest guns win. ton DC. Not long a$ er, he joins the school’s deal gone wrong before acting as a middle- basketball team. A star is born. He plays for man in the gold scam. St Mary appears to Tanya Pampalone is the features editor of the Mail & nearly two decades on the National Basket- be the main source in a United Nations re- Guardian.

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TTAO18.inddAO18.indd 4488 22012/03/20012/03/20 112:252:25 PPMM FOR PERSPECTIVES ON AFRICAN FUTURES LOG ON TO www.issafrica.org/futures

The African Futures Project is a collaboration between the Institute for Security Studies (www.issafrica.org) and the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures (www.ifs.du.edu) at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. ~ The Pardee Center is the home of the International Futures modelling system, an integrated approach to exploring and understanding human development and the broad implications of policy choices.

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