On Ivory Coast

It seems to me a pity that Ivory Coast had to wait so long, so very long, until the UN ( or was it France yet again?), decided to take events seriously. 

And all this with more than a little help from two other West African states, Nigeria and Burkina Fasso. 

I still remember when, in the 80s, I was first posted to Cameroon, and Laurent Gbagbo was a democracy activist and fighting for freedom in his own country. Yet, as we have been recently reminded of, after 11 years in power he has refused to concede defeat in national elections and has, once again, brought his country to the brink of civil war. 

All this while the African Union is doing virtually nothing, quite the same as in North Africa. But the AU is now chaired by Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea. Together with Mugabe, Bongo, Eyadema, Mouseveni and Kagame, he is one of many African leaders who have, either died in power, or seem willing to do so.

Can we really expect a signal of concern for the welfare of the people of Ivory Coast from the likes of them? I think not. And this is regretful and sad for those of us who would like to believe Africans have a future better than their past.