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Blaise’s mediation: Falls short of expectations
Blaise Campaore
Cona-cry relied on Blaise’s so-called wisdom to resolve the Guinean crisis. For a while we deliberately closed our eyes to his former agenda: the assassination of Thomas Sankara and the silence surrounding the death of journalist Norbert Zongo, conflicts created and substantiated across West Africa from the time of Ivorian president Houphouët Boigny until the time of Charles Taylor to the Hague today…In the Liberia-Sierra Leone conflict alone, undeniably supported by Burkina’s “Mr. Wisdom”, we have witnessed the systematic elimination of “over 300 000 casualties”. As for neighboring Ivory Coast, the ephemeral tranquility that it savors this very moment only came about when Blaise was called to the rescue as mediator. Not surprising, the fire that ravaged Ivory Coast was extinguished by Burkina-Faso, who served as the home base for rebels.
Guinea, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. The people rose against the ruling junta, not to overthrow the power, but rather to establish the foundation for a stable lasting democracy. This in today’s Africa is undoubtedly a threat to the status quo in the eyes of self-proclaimed heads of state, former conspirators, terrorists reborn into Messiahs who now lead the pack. A popular upheaval that leads us towards a stable and durable democracy, regardless of where in Africa this takes place, remains a serious threat to those in power. The Burkinabe president couldn’t have been offered a better opportunity than to serve as mediator in Guinea, where his policies will seemingly be limited to the systematic suffocation of the democratic process that otherwise would inspire the Burkinabe people, who have up until now been deprived of democracy.
One must recognize however, that the Guinean opposition was apparently too optimistic regarding the promises and support from the international community, and had all but given up hope of help on that front, and instead their hope rode solely on the anticipated help from Blaise. One would think that with the unanimous condemnation from the international community, Blaise would have sought to be seen in a “wise” light instead of an opportunistic one. However, up until now reality has revealed the opposite. It seems that the strong man from the land known for the integrity of its inhabitants much prefers the petty gold of naïve kinglets than the wisdom of the other Africa that seeks to renew itself. The other day, was there not just mention of the 50 kg of gold that Dadis sent him? In any case the verdict on his synthesis is clear: no foreseeable transparent and fair election in Guinea. Meanwhile the allegations against the South African mercenaries who have been training rebels in the confines of Forecariah are continuing to gather steam, the international community, all talk and not enough action, is the perfect spectator anticipating the ultimate carnage. After all, just as in Rwanda, they will have solid arguments: “We were not aware…”
Mamadou Maladho Diallo
I think you are right that Blaise’s choice as a mediator to the Guinean crises is irrelvant. The assassination of Thomas Sankara and the Journalist Norbert Zongo are among “the forma agenda” that people have forgotten or have refuse to recall. Today the solution to this crises is in our (the Guineans) hands. We have to continue our marches, the funds raising and the political party leaders have to go back to Guinea and bring the people back on the street again. We all understand that change doesn’t occure over night. As Dr king said during the Great March on Detroit that he doesn’t want to give people the impression that it will be easy. He beleives that there is no social gain without the individual pain. He said that “before the victory for brothehood is won some will have to get scared up a bit, thrown in to jail or even face physical death.” However, he also argues that “if physical death is the price tha some must pay to free their children and their white brothers from an eternal psychological death, then nothing can be more redemptive”. So we have to hold the same principle for our country. Some people are currently saying that let’s not rush but they have to understant that the time is ticking and that we have waited over a half century to move forward in country that has gold, diamond, and the biggest exporter of bauxite. We can not longer leave in a country where people are dying from mal nutrition, where women are raped in front of their children and husband, where electricity and running water are still a big dream to come.
TRADUCTION:
Je pense que vous avez raison que le choix de Blaise en tant médiateur dans la crise Guinéenne est hors de propos. Le meurtre de Thomas Sankara et du journaliste Norbert Zongo sont parmi ‘’les précédentes manière d’agir’’ que les gens ont oublié ou refusent de s’en souvenir. Aujourd’hui, la solution à cette crise est dans nos (les Guinéens) mains. On doit continuer nos démonstrations, la collecte de fonds et les leadeurs des parties politiques doivent retourner en Guinée et ramener le peuple de nouveau dans les rues. On comprends tous que le changement ne se passe pas au courant d’une nuit. Comme l’a dit Dr. King, pendant la grande manifestation a Détroit qu’il ne voulait pas donner aux gens l’impression que cela allait être facile. Il croit qu’il n’y a pas de gain social sans la douleur personnelle. Il a dit que: « Avant que la victoire pour la fraterie soit gagnée, certains vont faire face à la peur, seront jetés en prison où même feront face à la mort » . Cependant, il maintient aussi que: « si la mort est le prix que certains devront payer pour libérer leurs enfants et leurs frères blancs de la mort psychique éternelle, rien ne peut être plus rédemptif ». On doit maintenir le même principe pour notre pays. Certaines personnes sont en train de dire qu’il ne faut pas être pressé, mais le temps passe et on a attendu déjà un demi-siècle pour faire progresser le pays qui possède de l’or, les diamants et est le plus grand exportateur de bauxite. On ne peut plus vivre dans un pays où les gens meurent de la malnutrition, où les femmes sont violées sous les yeux de leurs enfants et mari, où l’électricité et l’eau courante sont un rêve qui attend encore d’être réalisé.