Hope for a Peacful Transition

Africa has the unfortunate condition common to developing countries, a condition of being ruled by strongmen. The African “Big Man” came into being as nations moving from colonial rule into independence lionized their leaders as the fathers of the nation.

Those leaders and their successors have solidified a form of government that is more dependent on the individual than the institutions of government. These leaders sit on top of structures with a very powerful executive, meaningless legislature and a judiciary that is beholden to the executive. In addition, they hold all military and police power. With all the power in the hands of one individual, and all the attendant levers of power resident in one branch it is natural that the others will atrophy to the point that the literally cannot function without considerable input from the dominant branch.

In such a structure whoever takes the lead after their predecessor leaves, whether by means of the bullet or the ballot box, inherits a system that is designed to serve their personal interests and priorities.

It is against this backdrop that change on the continent must take place. It is the sincere hope of Bongotista that we as a people can rise above the base tendencies of our human nature and embrace the promise of ideas that will lead to a better future and bring about the change that is needed through discussion and debate.

It is often the case, repeated time and again around the world, that when change to the extent proposed by Bongotista is undertaken, it is effected by extreme violence and bloodshed. Strongmen do not understand conversation, they do not brook dissent and they do not participate in debate. They have no interest in the rise of the people from the destitution in which they wallow to a future of hope and opportunity. They have no desire to educate their populations to the extent they can actively participate in a process that will lead to the point where they can make an informed decision about their future.

In short, they will fight any attempt to remove them from power before they are ready to leave using all means available. And, after they are gone they will do their best to fight their way back into power. They are a destabilizing force both in and out of power. We must choose the path of debate and discussion as a means of change because if not we face years of fighting in which hundreds of thousands of people will die.

In such a scenario, people of all stripes, proselytizing all manner of ideas will take up arms with the aim of pushing those ideas rather than fighting for the good of the whole. It is reality of such campaigns that will not only lengthen but also intensify the military route.

A peaceful transition is what we plan and hope to see.