TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY IN A NUTSHELL

I like teaching about transition to democracy. For Africans, the word "transition" has become  the buzz word. Transition to democracy begins with the defeat, the surrender, or the collapse of a dictator. Put simply, wherever a dictator or the military still hold power, there is no transition to democracy. The 21 years I spent in Latin America have confirmed this essential thesis. For countries with previous democratic experience, such as Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, transition to democracy culminated with the consolidation of democracy in a very short period of time. The collective memory of past consolidated democracy played a crucial role in the consolidation process. In Africa, we might  expect longer transitions because of the lack of that collective memory.  However, the first step, overthrowing a dictator, is what really matters for now. The second step is to create mechanisms that promote effective check-and-balance between the three branches of government in order to crush any tyrannical intent. It is no secret that African parliaments have always been arenas for political prostitution and corruption and that courts serve the interests of dictators and other immoral individuals. Africans must choose their best citizens for government positions for smoother and quicker transition to consolidated democracy. There will be several roadblocks along the way. Many Latin American countries, despite the re-democratization process started in early 1980s, are still in the transitional phase!  There's still much Africans can learn from those democracies in transition. Unfortunately, African dictators love to learn from their peers, from the way they successfully walk around constitutional barriers to remain in power forever.  Shame on them!

P.S. I first published this comment @  the Foreign Policy Magazine on November 3, 2014 

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/11/01/burkina_faso_s_silver_lining_compaore_coup

Related articles and comments:

http://www.voanews.com/content/burkina-faso-scrambles-to-pick-leader-before-deadline/2522552.html#hash=relatedInfoContainer

http://www.voanews.com/content/kafando-sworn-in-as-burkina-faso-transitional-president/2524280.html

http://www.voanews.com/content/dr-congo-debates-to-amend-or-not-to-amend-constitution/2507098.html#hash=relatedInfoContainer

THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF TYRANNY IN AFRICA: BURKINA FASO SET THE TONE

I was the first to coin the expression " Africa's mad Basenjis" to designate that specie of African dictators and tyrants that have caused so many tragedies to the African continent.  Take the case of the dictators of Rwanda and Uganda and it's hard and un-human to believe these two mad Basenjis are still walking and travelling free after killing over 5,000,000 Congolese through their sponsored wars in the DRC. 

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/794496.stm

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/16/world/rwanda-and-uganda-battling-to-control-key-city-in-congo.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/28/f-vp-macinnes-rae-congo.html?cmp=rss

http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?sum=574&p1=3&p2=3&case=116&p3=5

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2012/843

www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/CD/DRC_MAPPING_REPORT_FINAL_EN.pdf

The six truths to be learned from the events in Burkina Faso are: (1) Africa's mad Basenjis are and will always be fearful individuals. They fear their own people and the international community's increasing ability to prosecute them through the famous International Criminal Court. That's why they cling to power; (2) The only way Africa's mad Basenjis remain on power is by persecution and spreading fear among their citizens. Fear to be assassinated, bagged in sacs, let to float on a lake, buried down a river, or even reduced to ashes. This is the terror regime, African version; (3) Fear has been the most important cause of Africa's underdevelopment. Fearful individuals cannot create or produce at their full capacity. It is just against the law of knowledge and production. Free people throughout ages have been the most creative and have improved the quality of lives worldwide; (4)  Africans bear the responsibility to break free from fear and to experience freedom. The people of Burkina Faso have set the tone for the end of tyranny in Africa by courageously facing and overthrowing a tyrant. The international community must quarantine African tyrants and support democracy fighters across the continent; (5) Africa's parliaments under dictatorships act like prostitutes. Once they're paid, they're ready to  perform at the will of dictators who control everything (courts, legislature, the executive branch) and try to control even the minds of their  people; (6) Africa's mad Basenjis are a real threat to the mental health, public health, and public safety of millions of Africans. Therefore eradicating tyrants one at a time or en masse is a moral responsibility of anybody worthy to be called a human being. A bon entendeur, salut!

 

I first expressed this opinion in the Foreign Policy Magazine @

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/10/31/burkina_faso_might_finally_realize_favorite_leader_s_dreams_for_his_country

Other links to my comments and other reactions:

http://www.voanews.com/content/lt-colonel-taking-power-in-burkina-faso/2504328.html

http://www.voanews.com/content/burkina-faso-opposition-leaders-reject-army-takeover/2504745.html

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT'S MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Human rights activists around the globe have a reason to celebrate: an African head of state is standing trial at the feared International Criminal Court, which means the door is wide open to bring African dictators to court or quarantine them for good in their homelands. Although evidence against Mr. Kenyatta is not as strong as against Messrs. Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni ( see links below), these two gentlemen are next to be charged with crimes against humanity by the ICC. Their atrocities in the DRC are well documented by the United Nations and witnesses abound. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/794496.stm

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/16/world/rwanda-and-uganda-battling-to-control-key-city-in-congo.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/28/f-vp-macinnes-rae-congo.html?cmp=rss

http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?sum=574&p1=3&p2=3&case=116&p3=5

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2012/843

www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/CD/DRC_MAPPING_REPORT_FINAL_EN.pdf (This is a United Nations report documenting crimes committed by the leaders of Rwanda and Uganda and others in the D.R. Congo between 1993 and 2003)

Let's schedule Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni to stand trial at The Hague in the following weeks or issue arrest warrants against them should they decide not to cooperate.

P.S. I published this opinion in the Foreign Policy Magazine on 10/10/2014 @
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/10/10/how_to_destroy_international_criminal_court_from_within_kenya_ICC_kenyatta_hague

YOU GOT IT WRONG MR. SECRETARY-GENERAL: TYRANNY IS THE GREATEST PEACETIME CHALLENGE IN UN HISTORY

Dear Mr. Secretary-General,

You got it wrong this time. Diseases have come and gone in human history, some on their own while others successfully tackled by bright scientists. However, the world has failed to apply the basic tool to eradicate tyranny, especially in Africa: quarantine those mad men I have often degraded as the "mad basenjis of Africa" or "little devils in human shape" or "little devils coated in human skin" who continue to violate human rights and pose a serious and constant threat to the mental health, public health, and public safety of hundreds of millions of Africans. From Kigali, Kampala, etc., those mad basenjis are not ready to relinquish power and there's a reason behind it: they fear the International Criminal Court.  

While it's important for the UN to focus on that disease, the United Nations must invest resources to wipe out tyranny in Africa. Steps may include member-nations boycotting speeches by African dictators, limiting access to international funds for countries run by dictators, and promoting democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

Again and again, tyranny has proven to be the greatest challenge in human history. Let's give scientists the means they need and let's focus on the real threat to human race: tyranny.

P.S. I originally published this comment on 9/23/2014 @ the Foreign Policy Magazine http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/09/19/who_head_ebola_greatest_peacetime_challenge_in_un_history

P.S. II: People are listening. Check out this Washington Post link:

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/president-obama-embraces-democracy-promotion-once-again/2014/09/24/88e84d8c-4403-11e4-b47c-f5889e061e5f_story.html?hpid=z4

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER EBOLA: THE EBOLA OF TYRANNY IN AFRICA

The Ebola of dictatorship has ravaged Africa for over 50 years, from the time Africans gained independence. That Ebola has killed millions over the years. Just think of more than 5,000,000 Congolese who died of preventable diseases since the two unnameable little devils in human shape who rule over Rwanda and Uganda sent troops to loot the Congo and rape its women. No question: that Ebola is both deadlier and scarier. I have spent several years telling the world that dictators are a real threat to world security and that humanity must design comprehensive strategies  to eradicate all forms of tyranny. 

The other Ebola has also mutated since the time of Idi Amin Dada, Habyarimana, Mobutu, etc. Dictators have shed their skins and have become dictocrats, meaning dictators fraudulently elected through pseudo-democracy. They still represent a threat to public safety, public health, and mental health of hundreds of millions of Africans who've been reduced to silence, unable to speak up their mind to preserve their lives, unable to live decent lives. They change their countries' constitutions to remain on power and escape trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for all the crimes they have committed. 

It is time to help Africans get rid of the other Ebola, the Ebola of dictatorship and corruption. That virus is a serious threat  to lives of millions of Africans, who, like rest of the world, long for dignity and respect for human lives. 

P.S I published this comment on 9/9/2014 at the Foreign Policy Magazine: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/09/05/we_could_have_stopped_this_ebola_virus_world_health_organization

 

RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THE DRC FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

As a law enforcement scholar and a Criminal Justice college professor, I applaud the Government of the United States in this pulling-levers initiative. We all know that a relatively small number of political and military leaders in Rwanda and Uganda (and to some extent Burundi) have been responsible for a disproportionate number of crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last 17 years, including the death of over 5,000,000 Congolese. The United Nations have issued tons of reports on those crime against humanity.

There is no need for a magnifier, in other words this is no brainer to identify by names those individuals targeted in the lines of this Executive Order.  The message conveyed is no different from the way we deal with hardcore criminals. We send a direct and explicit message telling them we know who they are, their modus operandi (and for those dictators, where they have put their illegal monies). We make it clear that if they persist in their animalistic and antisocial behavior they will be subject to certain and swift punishment. If they stop their criminal behavior, then we can provide them with some sorts of social services (including food) or extend for a short while the international welfare program funded by compassionate foreign taxpayers.

Those stupid wars in the Congo MUST stop now. Those responsible for crimes against humanity in the Congo must respond before the civilized world.

Text of the Executive Order:

For Immediate Release

July 08, 2014

Executive Order -- Regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo

EXECUTIVE ORDER

- - - - - - -

TAKING ADDITIONAL STEPS TO ADDRESS THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE CONFLICT IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act

(50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 5 of the United Nations Participation Act (22 U.S.C. 287c) (UNPA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,

I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in order to take additional steps to deal with the national emergency with respect to the situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared in Executive Order 13413 of October 27, 2006, in view of multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions including, most recently, Resolution 2136 of January 30, 2014, and in light of the continuation of activities that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the surrounding region, including operations by armed groups, widespread violence and atrocities, human rights abuses, recruitment and use of child soldiers, attacks on peacekeepers, obstruction of humanitarian operations, and exploitation of natural resources to finance persons engaged in these activities, hereby order:

Section 1.  Subsection (a) of section 1 of Executive Order 13413 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(a)  All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person (including any foreign branch) of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:

(i) the persons listed in the Annex to this order; and

(ii) any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:

(A) to be a political or military leader of a foreign armed group operating in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo that impedes the disarmament, demobilization, voluntary repatriation, resettlement, or reintegration of combatants;

(B) to be a political or military leader of a Congolese armed group that impedes the disarmament, demobilization, voluntary repatriation, resettlement, or reintegration of combatants;

(C) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged in, directly or indirectly, any of the following in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

(1) actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;

(2) actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;

(3) the targeting of women, children, or any civilians through the commission of acts of violence (including killing, maiming, torture, or rape or other sexual violence), abduction, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge, or through conduct that would constitute a serious abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law;

(4) the use or recruitment of children by armed groups or armed forces in the context of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;

(5) the obstruction of the delivery or distribution of, or access to, humanitarian assistance;

(6) attacks against United Nations missions, international security presences, or other peacekeeping operations; or

(7) support to persons, including armed groups, involved in activities that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo or that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through the illicit trade in natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;

(D) except where intended for the authorized support of humanitarian activities or the authorized use by or support of peacekeeping, international, or government forces, to have directly or indirectly supplied, sold, or transferred to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or been the recipient in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of, arms and related materiel, including military aircraft and equipment, or advice, training, or assistance, including financing and financial assistance, related to military activities;

(E) to be a leader of (i) an entity, including any armed group, that has, or whose members have, engaged in any of the activities described in subsections (a)(ii)(A) through (a)(ii)(D) of this section or (ii) an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order;

(F) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of (i) any of the activities described in subsections (a)(ii)(A) through (a)(ii)(D) of this section or (ii) any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or

(G) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order."

Sec. 2.  New subsection (d) is hereby added to section 1 of Executive Order 13413 to read as follows:

"(d)  The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date of this order."

Sec. 3.  Section 2 of Executive Order 13413 is hereby amended to read as follows:

 "Sec. 2.  (a)  Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

(b)  Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited."

Sec. 4.  The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA and the UNPA, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order and Executive Order 13413, as amended by this order.  The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government consistent with applicable law.

Sec. 5.  All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and Executive Order 13413, as amended by this order.

Sec. 6.  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

BARACK OBAMA

 

Recent Executive Order on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Other links to identify some of the individuals targeted by this Executive Order:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/794496.stm

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/16/world/rwanda-and-uganda-battling-to-control-key-city-in-congo.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/28/f-vp-macinnes-rae-congo.html?cmp=rss

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2012/843
www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/CD/DRC_MAPPING_REPORT_FINAL_EN.pdf (This is a United Nations report documenting crimes committed by the leaders of Rwanda and Uganda and others in the D.R. Congo between 1993 and 2003)

This comment was also posted on the Foreign Policy Magazine at:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/07/10/will_congos_rebels_finally_come_in_from_the_cold_fdlr_m23