Sitting at the headquarters of the African Uniion in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, some African leaders have been sounding as if they have been suffering persecution from the hands of the West, all because the International Criminal Court (ICC) has decided to try one of their own, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, current president of Kenya, and has been holding Mr. Charles Taylor of Liberia and other war criminals from Africa. These leaders have even gone as far as speculating that they are being targetted because of their race.
They seem not to be concerned that these people who are being targeted by the ICC are those accused of having committed real atrocities against the African peoples - African leaders generally do not seem to be concerned about atrocities committed against their own people because they now see it as a way of life. Granted, the ICC should probably not be the body holding African leaders accountable for their crimes. However, to claim that African leaders are being targeted because of their race is to imply that the misdeeds of these leaders actually to not merit attention, especially from the West. The fact that the West has historically had a racist attitude toward Africa does not mean that African leaders should cry racism now. The actions of African leaders against their own people could be perceived as more racist than the actions of the ICC. One can make a very good argument that the machinations of African leaders have killed and deprived more Africans than the racism of the West. It is time these leaders take responsibility for their actions rather than hiding behind claims of racism.
It is quite interesting that as they were railing against the racism of the West, they were at the same time praising the magnanimity of China. As if China were less racist than the West! The difference between China and the West is that China currently does not care about the atrocities of African leaders, as long as they get the raw materials and the market they need in Africa. This is not to say that the West cares about these atrocities. The colonial and postcolonial history of Africa is littered with Western cooperation with African leaders to fleece the continent of its resources and slaughter its people. The relationship which the West and China have with Africa is based on racist assumptions - that Africans do not deserve better than they have. Sadly, the ill-treatment which African leaders have given their own people also indicate that buy into this racist assumption. Consider the luxury in which all African leaders live and the hardship in which many of their people live!
African leaders have no moral basis to claim racism from the West because they themselves manifest racist tendencies towards their people. They sit high above their people and do whatever they wish because no one can hold them accountable. However, they must not be allowed to run away with their crimes. If they cannot be prosecuted in Africa because they have rendered the laws useless, they should be prosecuted at the Hague.
They seem not to be concerned that these people who are being targeted by the ICC are those accused of having committed real atrocities against the African peoples - African leaders generally do not seem to be concerned about atrocities committed against their own people because they now see it as a way of life. Granted, the ICC should probably not be the body holding African leaders accountable for their crimes. However, to claim that African leaders are being targeted because of their race is to imply that the misdeeds of these leaders actually to not merit attention, especially from the West. The fact that the West has historically had a racist attitude toward Africa does not mean that African leaders should cry racism now. The actions of African leaders against their own people could be perceived as more racist than the actions of the ICC. One can make a very good argument that the machinations of African leaders have killed and deprived more Africans than the racism of the West. It is time these leaders take responsibility for their actions rather than hiding behind claims of racism.
It is quite interesting that as they were railing against the racism of the West, they were at the same time praising the magnanimity of China. As if China were less racist than the West! The difference between China and the West is that China currently does not care about the atrocities of African leaders, as long as they get the raw materials and the market they need in Africa. This is not to say that the West cares about these atrocities. The colonial and postcolonial history of Africa is littered with Western cooperation with African leaders to fleece the continent of its resources and slaughter its people. The relationship which the West and China have with Africa is based on racist assumptions - that Africans do not deserve better than they have. Sadly, the ill-treatment which African leaders have given their own people also indicate that buy into this racist assumption. Consider the luxury in which all African leaders live and the hardship in which many of their people live!
African leaders have no moral basis to claim racism from the West because they themselves manifest racist tendencies towards their people. They sit high above their people and do whatever they wish because no one can hold them accountable. However, they must not be allowed to run away with their crimes. If they cannot be prosecuted in Africa because they have rendered the laws useless, they should be prosecuted at the Hague.
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