The West, especially France, could easily decide who becomes president in Ivory Coast - not so anymore, apparently. The impotence of the international community in the current impasse in the country speaks volumes. How the world turns.
4 comments:
PH
said...
I guess time really does change everything. Hopefully time will change things for the better in Africa so that this impasse currently taking place in the Ivory Coast will be resolved.
DT I feel that the problem with the West interfering in African Democracy is its hard to know when we've gone too far. Yes we should help to establish democracy but there comes a point when we have to step back and let African problems be sorted out by Africans. If the west is always stepping in and fixing things is that really teaching africans to fix things for themselves?
Keep in mind, though, that it is not just the West that is currently incapable of resolving the disputed presidency in le Côte d'Ivoir. Laurent Gbagbo has also ignored all attempts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECoWAS) and the African Union (AU) to resolve the dispute. Can or should the West continue intervening in African affairs? Only by invitation, and only if the situation is truly dire. Which, right now Alassane Ouattara is being protected and cared for by UN troops, as Gbagbo's forces have locked down all access to the hotel in which the new president is staying. Ultimately, it is up to the African people, both collectively and individually, to determine their future. The West should not attempt to direct that future, but instead support the course determined by the people and rightful leaders. Ouattara was elected by popular vote. His life is in danger because he refuses to concede to a man unwilling to relinquish power. I think in this case the international community (both the West and African) is right in trying to transfer power and assist. Finally, I think that the situation does indeed speak volumes to how the world has changed. In the past, Western powers might simply have had Gbagbo assassinated or sent in a stronger force to seize control. Instead of that course, they are now attempting to resolve the situation through diplomacy and leaving much of the negotiating to other African leaders, and the UN troops in country aren't initiating combat. This demonstrates at least a limited amount of change in Western theory regarding how to deal with African issues.
AA Although foreign interference in African countries’ political systems is sometimes necessary, it is not a viable long term solution to the problem of instability. In order to create long term political stability African countries need to find the solutions themselves with as little interference from foreign countries as possible.
4 comments:
I guess time really does change everything. Hopefully time will change things for the better in Africa so that this impasse currently taking place in the Ivory Coast will be resolved.
DT
I feel that the problem with the West interfering in African Democracy is its hard to know when we've gone too far. Yes we should help to establish democracy but there comes a point when we have to step back and let African problems be sorted out by Africans. If the west is always stepping in and fixing things is that really teaching africans to fix things for themselves?
Keep in mind, though, that it is not just the West that is currently incapable of resolving the disputed presidency in le Côte d'Ivoir. Laurent Gbagbo has also ignored all attempts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECoWAS) and the African Union (AU) to resolve the dispute.
Can or should the West continue intervening in African affairs? Only by invitation, and only if the situation is truly dire. Which, right now Alassane Ouattara is being protected and cared for by UN troops, as Gbagbo's forces have locked down all access to the hotel in which the new president is staying.
Ultimately, it is up to the African people, both collectively and individually, to determine their future. The West should not attempt to direct that future, but instead support the course determined by the people and rightful leaders.
Ouattara was elected by popular vote. His life is in danger because he refuses to concede to a man unwilling to relinquish power. I think in this case the international community (both the West and African) is right in trying to transfer power and assist.
Finally, I think that the situation does indeed speak volumes to how the world has changed. In the past, Western powers might simply have had Gbagbo assassinated or sent in a stronger force to seize control. Instead of that course, they are now attempting to resolve the situation through diplomacy and leaving much of the negotiating to other African leaders, and the UN troops in country aren't initiating combat. This demonstrates at least a limited amount of change in Western theory regarding how to deal with African issues.
AA
Although foreign interference in African countries’ political systems is sometimes necessary, it is not a viable long term solution to the problem of instability. In order to create long term political stability African countries need to find the solutions themselves with as little interference from foreign countries as possible.
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