A Tragedy..

Recently, about 150 people were killed in Kiwanja, Eastern Congo in what the International Herald Tribune of December 11th 2008 describes as "a study in unfettered cruelty meted out by the armed groups fighting for power and resources in Eastern Congo".

the Tribune draws one's attention to how the world's largest peace keeping force [centred in the Congo] has failed in its mandate to protect the people, and in the words of Anneke Van Woudenberg a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch, "the people were betrayed not just by rebels who committed terrible war crimes against them, but by the international community that failed to protect them".

The rebel forces of Laurent Nkunda meted out death and rape on the people whilst trying to flush out it's enemies. Government- allied militias looted and meted out rape on the people, as they attempted to flee Nkunda's advancing forces..

.. And what is the largest United Nations peace keeping force anywhere in the world cites poor communication and staffing, as well as inadequate equipment and intelligence breakdowns, as reasons for failing in its mission of protecting the people..

What happened in Kiwanja ranges from a lack of appreciation of the need for a 'people- centred' peace keeping, to a blatant disregard for human life..

What happened in Kiwanja is quite simply, a tragedy.

The Obama presidency and hope for a more peaceful world.

Barack Obama will on January 20 2009, start a 4 year term as the 44th President of the United States of America.

His ascension to the presidency has been achieved on the back of a rational and emotionally mature approach to issues- including those of foreign policy.

He has promised to dialogue with America's adversaries if that is what it takes to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable solution to crises..

Obama's thoughtfulness as well as his steady approach to foreign policy issues may yet serve as the soothing balm that an increasingly fractious world needs..

The man who would be the most powerful person in the world may yet, by sheer dint of personality and temperament, steer our collective discourse more towards a quest for peace than a readiness for conflict.

On Mogae, Botswana and the Mo Ibrahim Prize..

It is to be lauded, the idea behind the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Prize for good Governance, initiated by Sudanese- born Dr Mohammed Ibrahim.

A prize won in Its inaugural year by Joaquim Chissano (former president of Mozambique), the 2008 winner has been named as Dr Festus Mogae, Botswana's former leader.

Kofi Anan, spokesperson for the foundation described Mogae's efforts to protect the peace, security and development of his country in the face of tough challenges, as the reason for his securing the prize.

Despite critics accusing Dr Ibrahim of wasting his money trying to bribe African leaders into behaving themselves, there is some sense in initiating such a prize..

.. On a continent rife with conflict, poverty, disease and corruption, there is a desperate need for achieving necessary traction in solving the continent's ills.

A Prize for good Governance which by virtue of its principles, encourages a striving for the noble and the ideal, goes some way in creating the platform for achieving this necessary traction..

Talking means one cares enough..

The recent comments made by Brigadier Mark Carlton- Smith the British commander in Afghanistan, regarding the war in that country, is put in perspective..

Brigadier Carlton- Smith declared that the British [and indeed the Americans] were not going to win the war [against the Taliban] and insisted that it was about ".. reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that is not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan army".

He went on to highlight that talks with the Taliban about a political settlement should not be ruled out...

These comments show admirable insight and tremendous personal courage.

There is however another side to the issue..

.. That Talks mean that hopefully, untold hundreds of ordinary Afghans caught in the cross-fire get to enjoy relative peace.

.. Talking means you care enough about them..

Skepticism, hopefully not a hinderance..

Yesterday Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai finally signed a power- sharing agreement, which should hopefully bring peace to the streets of Zimbabwe and set the country on the path of economic recovery..

Reports have put the inflation rate in Zimbabwe at 11 million percent.. "one of the highest inflation rates ever recorded"..

As far as this power- sharing agreement is concerned, skepticism rightly or wrongly has quickly taken foothold.

Analysts have described the agreement (details of which, are still fuzzy) as "complex" and "confusing"..

Great Britain has pledged to support the recovery of Zimbabwe only in the event that the deal is "faithfully implemented"..

A European Union statement links its [European Union] aid to "reforms"..

The most important thing perhaps is that Robert Mugabe has agreed to share power with Morgan Tsvangirai. . that both Men appreciate that the road will not be easy, but declare that Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans remain the reason why they want to try..

It is understandable, the concerns of the skeptics... however, for the sake of Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans both men perhaps best be actively encouraged through what would be a difficult process..

A 'wait and see' approach that judges, without an honest appreciation of the difficulties, is not the way to go as this approach may not be in the best interest of ordinary Zimbabweans..

The need for responsible and intuitive leadership.

For the sake of maintaining peaceful co-existence, especially in regions of our world fraught with conflict and mistrust, leadership needs to have as its central focus, the safety and welfare of the led... the ordinary man, woman and child.

Hindsight has confirmed what the world had long suspected;.. that Russia has been biding its time to make its voice heard..

Mikheil Saakashvili the Georgian leader, by his gross miscalculation of forceful crackdown in South Ossetia, had walked right into Russia's trap..

One might ask, was the Georgian leader focusing on the peace, security and overall well being of ordinary citizens of his country and the immediate region when he made his move in south Ossetia? Did he at any point consider what Russia's response might be?

Responsible and intuitive leadership that is less about self, and which has as its focus the welfare and safety of the man, woman and child on the streets, would immediately recognise the danger inherent in baiting a larger more powerful country with something to prove..

Hundreds have lost their lives and swathes of Georgia lie in ruins... so much for the Georgian leader's exploits in south Ossetia.

Events of history have shown again and again that leadership has mostly one shot at making important decisions..

Hence for leadership, hindsight is mostly a luxury..

The dangerously combustible mix of: Increased standing in the world, increased nationalistic pride and grouse against established power(s).

In the last three days Russia has been at war with Georgia, a conflict that has, if reports are to be believed, left more than 2000 civilians dead.

In the words of George W. Bush, this conflict is "occurring in regions of Georgia far removed from the zone of conflict in South Ossetia.."

As worrying, the Russian foreign minister has reportedly declared that the Georgian president "must go". This prompted what Richard Roth, CNN's U.N correspondent described as "language from another era.." on the floor of the United Nations security council.

Surely the reason why Russia is so concerned about South Ossetia wouldn't be about.. the need to change the regime in Georgia!???...?

Currently Russia (a militarily powerful country that has known its fair share of prominence) enjoys increased standing in the world.. not least because of the billions of dollars It is accruing from the sale of its oil. The increased nationalistic pride felt by Russian citizens is there for all the world to see..
The Russian federation has, in the recent past, hardly passed up on a chance to criticize the United States for what it describes as increasing U.S hegemony...

The mix of Increased standing in the world, nationalistic pride, and grouse (real or perceived) against established power(s) whilst good for a nation's psyche, should perhaps best be very carefully managed..

... Russia, Europe and indeed the world need only look back to 70 years ago to remind themselves of why..

"..If the arsonists are in charge there will never be enough firefighters"....Luis Moreno- Ocampo.

Elizabeth Rubin's article in the TIME magazine, published online on July 24 2008 is worth a read.

It describes Luis Moreno- Ocampo's [prosecutor of the international criminal courts] frustration at what he sees as the United Nations and the West being out of touch with what has been going on in Dafur, which counts 300,000 as dead and 2.5 million people as displaced.

The article describes how initial encouragement to charge Omar Hassan al-Bashir the Sudanese leader with genocide gave way to lukewarmness, and then when he [Luis Moreno- Ocampo] pressed on, accusations that he will be "responsible for a bloodbath" in Dafur.

It was interesting, his answer: "Today the people of Dafur are being killed. Today they are being destroyed and have no hope".

"Diplomatic obstruction and political accommodation" over a period of nearly three years allowed the Sudanese Leader free reign to protect perpetrators of acts of genocide, continue to terrorise the people of Dafur, as well as withhold much needed aid.

It seems that in today's complicated world of international diplomacy, the oft claimed 'big picture' view fails to take into consideration the suffering in real time, of the man, woman and child in much need of protection.

A diplomacy that is less about 'black or white' and more about 'different shades of gray' is in danger of encouraging conditions like those in Dafur..

... conditions that sadly are never in the best interests of the very people meant to be protected.

The 'Kibaki/Odinga effect' perhaps?

A frankly nonplussed world looked on yesterday as Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF shook hands on the beginning of talks that should end in a coalition government with Morgan Tsvangirai and his party the MDC.



.. It was like a bolt from the blue, especially with the violence on the streets gaining momentum, as well as the fact that both men are said not to have spoken to each other in 10 years..



Barely concealed resentment for each other was evident, which begs for cautious optimism. The road they start upon would not be easy..



As tenuous as all this may seem to the critics however, the happenings of the last 24 hours is yet another positive for crises resolution in Africa..



Like the Kibaki/Odinga experience in Kenya, with the help of fellow Africans Zimbabwe's big man agrees to talk with his adversary for the sake of peace..

The meaning of peace..

As the world celebrates the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela, a time perhaps to reflect on the true meaning of peace..

The Madiba gave much of his adult life to the struggle for freedom, Justice and equality for Black South Africans in the era of Apartheid..

He also, crucially, initiated truth and reconciliation as a means of ensuring sustained and peaceful co-existence..

As we fondly remember his struggle therefore, we must also remember his perhaps less celebrated act of bringing together perpetrator and aggrieved with a view to achieving necessary catharsis and with this, the higher ground. This perhaps is the true meaning of peace..

The Prisoner Swap Conundrum..

The Israeli cabinet's decision to trade a Lebanese Militant for two [quite possibly dead] Israeli soldiers today, and the resultant misgivings expressed by some about giving militants little incentive to keep captured soldiers alive, brings into focus an article written by Adam B. Kushner in the Newsweek of June 16, 2008.

Adam Kushner cites Pidyon shevuyim (The redemption of captives), as well as pressure from mothers of young captured soldiers as reasons for Israeli Government approval of prisoner swaps, in spite of what he sees as the danger inherent in this practice... An overall endangering of the world, as militants capture prisoners to be traded for their own people, who would then ultimately re-offend, sometimes with more devastating consequences than previously.

... A compelling argument, except that like the voices insisting Israel's prisoner swap today is a bad idea, he has not taken his argument into the realm of the urgency to find a just and sustainable solution to the Israel/Palestinian conflict.

... A just and sustainable solution will, in time and with the commitment of all the stake holders, obviate the need for Prisoner -taking and the resultant prisoner exchanges..

War games..

Recently, both Governments of Israel and Iran have held the attention of the world with their show of readiness for war.

Israel's military exercise in the skies has been generally construed as perhaps a show of their readiness to strike pre-emptively at Iran's nuclear facilities, as concerns continue to be expressed about what is perceived as Iran's belligerent intentions. The Iranians continue to insist that their nuclear facilities are designed for peaceful purposes.

Iran has tested both short and long range missiles, in a show of what they say is their readiness to do significant damage to the enemy if attacked. Prominent voices have suggested this to mean that Iran is indeed a threat which should be addressed one way or another..

Regardless of which views are right or wrong, what must not be lost on us all is what actual war will mean for a world reeling from the effects of natural disaster, war, disease and hunger..

Those of prominent voice should steer their discourse towards dialogue for the sake of peace.. and not towards the readiness for war..

Gaza's economic blockade.. a double edged sword

The June 14 edition of the Financial Times (Europe) describes in its news analysis, the rising power of Hamas in Gaza despite Gaza being economically blockaded and Hamas being in almost all-out military conflict with Israel.

Hamas ability to consolidate its power and retain the support of the man, woman and child on the streets serves as proof that whilst economic sanctions can encourage people to turn against the leadership, it can also make the people more entrenched in their support for their leaders.. .especially in the face of bloodshed.

It is time for the search for peace in the region to have a 'human' feel..

The arrogance of 'divide and rule'

Robert Mugabe's assertion that his country's war veterans will take to the bush and fight if he loses the upcomming run-off elections shows how terribly detatched the Zimbabwean leader has become from the suffering as well as aspirations of his people.

Attempting to drive a wedge between factions of the populace means he has lost interest in the concerns of the collective, further re-enforcing the belief that he desires to hold on to power at all cost.

There can only be one result of this course of action.. ontold violence.

It is perhaps time for the majority to speak up with one voice, and stifle the machinations of the minority in power, not just for the sake of its self- actualization, but also for the sake of peace.

It is perhaps time, for a peoples' revolution...

A bad time to be hungry..

As the world reels from the effect of lack of adequate quantities of food to feed its billions, it is perhaps ironic that other more trumpeted world events hold our attention, and global food shortages does not.

The daily news of record high oil prices..
The much talked about credit crunch and home fore-closures..
The tragic tale of a cyclone claiming tens of thousands of lives in myanmar..
..and the earthquake in China claiming its own tens of thousands..
The poverty, disease and conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa.. a perennial tale..

These events certainly are important, and their effect most probably makes food shortages more keenly felt..

Whilst food shortages is acknowledged, there is less robust talk of a collective effort to surmount the problem of a lack of this very basic of human needs..

A very basic human need left unsatisfied could only result in less than tolerant human beings, as the recent food related riots in Haiti and protests in Senegal have shown..

The People Vs Mugabe: The struggle continues..

Morgan Tsvangirai [of the opposition MDC party in Zimbabwe] has made the decision to participate in a run-off election, after initially refusing to do so.. an about-face that is most probably in the best interest of Zimbabwe.

The decision to participate in a run-off election provides yet another opportunity for the man and woman on the streets to push hard for honest, as well as considerate leadership regardless of the brutality (real or perceived) of the Zimbabwean regime.

In the quest for peace and justice, the people on the streets will have to speak up, no matter how many times,.. or be ground into the dust by an inconsiderate Government..

Does Jeremiah Wright's comments serve to unite.. or divide.

As America's Democratic party continues to enthrall with this most interesting of nomination battles [ Clinton Vs Obama], comments made by Jeremiah Wright, Obama's ex-pastor is put in perspective.

It is perhaps without a doubt, that successfully bringing people of different races together in America to achieve the common good, cannot happen without the cold, harsh confronting of the demons of racism and segregation.

.. that, in many ways perhaps is what Jeremiah Wright attempts to achieve in his sermons.

He is however bound as preacher, by the teachings of Christ which exhorts to 'love thy neighbour'..

It is difficult for Jeremiah Wright to subscribe to, and act as a channel for this most essential teaching of Christ when he readily accuses the American Government of deliberately infecting the black population with the AIDS virus, an assertion that is false.. (regardless of what may have happened in the past).

Doing this could only serve to divide rather than unite..

Does the Carter meetings with Hamas undermine Abu Mazen?

..It is arguable that this is the case as, President Carter enters into discussion on issues that serve to hopefully improve the condition of ordinary Palestinians whom, it is clear are currently undergoing untold suffering..

It remains difficult to imagine how effective Abu Mazen's negotiations with Israel can be, without putting the suffering of ordinary Palestinians living in Gaza into the equation...

Real Peace could only really be achieved by consideration for the Man, woman and child on the streets..

The Mwai Kibaki/Raila Odinga coalition, a significant moment?

The power sharing agreement between Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga may yet serve, not just as the light at the end of the tunnel after what became the darkest hour in post -independence Kenya, but also as a beacon of direction to Leaders of nations with the same turmoil recently faced by Kenya and Kenyans.

It is hoped that the maturity shown by Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga underlines an appreciation of the brink to which nations can come, in the event that injustice, real or perceived, is left to fester unchecked.

It is perhaps very important however, that in order to make this coalition work, Mwai Kibaki will have to be Raila Odinga's new best friend and vice-versa.

Mugabe: A chance to pleasantly surprise, gone begging.

..By not releasing the results of the just concluded general elections in a comprehensive and timely manner, All the Mugabe-led Zimbabwean Government has succeeded in doing is give credence to the fears of the rest of the world, that it does not play free and fair.. that he [Mugabe] will do anything to ensure he remains in power..

More sinisterly, The actions of the Zimbabwean Government has perhaps set the tone for distrust that could well go beyond party lines, violently pitting the ordinary man, woman and child on the streets against one another..

Iraq 2008.

It is five years and counting..
four thousand American dead and counting..
Untold hundreds of thousands of Iraqi dead and counting..
No clear end.. no clear exit strategy...
Time continues to tick...


..Perhaps this, a show of how increasingly complex and concrete the human thinking has become about initiating, as well bringing conflicts to a just resolution. A requiem for simplicity and honesty? Human beings must decide...

Celebrations in the wake of murder..

It is to be viewed with a sense of tragedy, the way ordinary Palestinians in Gaza celebrated the recent murder of innocent Jews by a Palestinian gunman a few days ago in Jerusalem.

.. A tragedy that is as a result of the increasing hopelessness of achieving a just and lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Can the persons in a position to broker a peaceful settlement not see how increasingly hopeless the situation is becoming?

Does the uncertainty, anger and fear felt by ordinary Israelis as well as Palestinians in Gaza not make any impression?

.. Dancing on the streets in Gaza in the wake of murder , in many ways questions the assertion made recently by Dr Condi Rice that ordinary Gazans are being held hostage by Hamas.

.. However what will the effect be, of reprisals from Israel?

.. Even more hopelessness.

..and now to the healing.

Long after the handshakes agreeing to a framework that hopeful ensures a cessation of violence, and a workable process that addresses the equitable sharing of power and resources....

Long after cautious optimism hopefully becomes conviction that Kenya has turned a corner from the dark and dangerous place it descended to in the wake of the recent elections....

....The Kenyan people must now re-learn how to live with one another in peace.. something that will not be easy.

Re-learn?!.. how did it come to this? What lessons are to be learned from the unfortunate incidents of the post- election era in Kenya?

The answer perhaps, is that the ordinary man, woman and child on the streets is as responsible for one another as their elected officials are responsible for them.

.... that when elected officials fail at the responsibility of ensuring peaceful co-existence, it is left to the governed, for their own sakes, to reach deep into their reserves to make this happen.

The 'cancer from within we need to fix' in Africa.

Kofi Annan asserts to NewsWeek that this 'cancer' is the lack of a constitutional structure within Governments in Africa that distributes power evenly, and so governments that fail to let people of different ethnic groups [as in the case of Kenya] " feel that the cloth of government is stretched to cover everybody, that nobody is left out or discriminated against in terms of economic well-being and resources, access to money and power". Too true.

Peace and sustained prosperity could only be a possibility when there arises among African leaders, an earnest committment to honest leadership. A committment to honest leadership immediately appreciates the dangers inherent in creating a climate of distrust among different ethnic groups.

Honest leadership would recorgnise that faced with the situation of having to deal with different ethnic groups, equitable disribution of wealth and resources is perhaps the only sure way to unity, sustained prosperity, and ultimately peace.

Responsible leadership, and Peace: The Chadian story

The denouncing of rebel attacks in chad by the French government last week, on the grounds that the Chadian government was legitimately elected, brings into sharp focus the way that irresponsible leadership impacts on Peace.

The Chadian government seems not to have fulfilled its promises to the man, woman and child on the streets, to provide the basic amenities that would make their lives worth living.

This has clearly led to the people applauding rebel attacks on the infrastructure of their government, even if these rebels do not neccessarily guarantee unity, prosperity and ultimately, peace.

The current situation is a recipe for the perpetuation of conflict in Chad, and for that matter any other country in the same predicament.

Perhaps Western governments should spend time visibly encouraging the governments of countries where they have interests, to provide for the needs of their people.

The tragedy that is a lack of consideration for the man, woman and child on the streets.

Real peace can only be negotiated with the Governed and not 'Governments'. Israeli blockade of Gaza leads only to an alienation of the Man, Woman, and Child on the streets. This can only serve to perpetuate mistrust and conflict.

Mwai Kibaki's declaration that he was the duly elected President of Kenya directly after shaking hands on a truce with Odinga sends the wrong message to the man, woman and child on the streets. It is a declaration of contempt for their concerns. This again would only perpetuate mistrust and conflict.

"Gaza is a tough situation. I don't know whether you can solve it in a year or not".

... a statement [from Bush to Abu- Mazen]. At present, Gaza is possibly the single most undermining factor in the achieving of peace in the region within one year. Without a unified Palestinian authority it is difficult to see how peace can be negotiated effectively. Rather than leave Abu- Mazen with the task of 'solving' the tough situation in Gaza, he needs to be supported to achieve this. This of course will involve negotiating with Hamas, and if that is what it is then so be it.

The Bush visit to the Middle East: Will it achieve anything?

Difficult to imagine that it would, especially as he has not started by exhorting both the Israelis and the Palestinians to adopt an HONESTY and SINGLE MINDEDNESS OF PURPOSE to achieve an elusive peace.

An honesty and single mindedness of purpose have become of urgent importance as the road to peace has become dogged by pitfalls engineered by elements from both sides, and from without. these elements have selfish interests that could never serve as a catalyst, but would rather hinder the march to peace.

On the post-election violence in Kenya

For the sake of unity, peace and prosperity, the peoples that constitute Governments must seek a middle-line between the extremes of inaction and a resorting to outright violence, in the wake of flawed elections. Inaction encourages the political class to alienate the citizenry and mismanage resources. Outright violence breeds mistrust between peoples, leading ultimately to a lack of unity, peace and a push for prosperity.