Civil Unrest: Justified?

Three years after former Tunisian President Ben Ali was ousted from office, Tunisians voted for their constitution. The country saw thousands of dead bodies during the Arab Spring. Egypt saw the trial against President Mubarak broadcasted on National TV with a Democratic elected Government under President Morsi from Muslim Brotherhood only to stand trial in the same courtroom as his predecessor in the President’s Office.

Burkina Faso saw two weeks of violent clashes during which the former President escaped to finally become a Citizen of Ivory Coast leaving a new Government in his former State House. Burundi sees death in numbers on the street of Bujumbura due to the desire of the President to run for a third term in office contrary to the Constitution of the country.

The current President of Togo is in Office for a third term even the Constitution does not mandate him for an extension to stay in power. Aging President Robert Mugabe uses his power to install his wife as the strong woman to follow him once new elections are due to be hold in Zimbabwe in 2018. (The powerful Veteran Association has withdrawn its support for Robert Mugabe and the rebellious Pastor is in self-decided Exile in South Africa…be mindful)

Democracy comes in this world in various shapes, sizes and forms. It so far is the best form of Governance for matured minds that are required to draft, implement and run it for the lasting benefit of ALL citizen of a country. Small boys should stay away from it unless ready to improve on their performance to become big boys and matured minds.

A country is not the power house of a Family or a small group in a society but a participation of many for the welfare of ALL.

It has been a long debate among Political Scientist whether in a Democracy Revolution and Civil Unrest is legal and morally allowed and advice as the Citizens have the chance to vote each 4 or 5 years for an alternative to the existing Parties and People in power. When a Democratic Constitution is weak, drafted with short falls or no longer benefitting the Citizen as a society is moving on in its historic setting in combination with a political, social and economic elite taking the citizen hostage by serving themselves with national assets and glorification, its becomes the mandate of the citizen to take their faith into their own hands. They have to take their brains to the streets and leave their emotions, frustration and anger behind.

History has proven that in most cases such developments take a bloody path with great uncertainties and disturbances in various sectors of the society. Only very few cases can be taught to University Students of dynamic and peaceful transition to lift up a society to a higher level such like November 9^th 1989, the night the Berlin Wall was falling after 40 years of separation of Germany West and Germany East with no footage reported of any injuries and political vacuum created.

Unlike the Arab Spring and other observations in Africa, Germans were well prepared for this special and historic moment that was the end of Communism in Europe and Russia. Years of internal debate created ready minds of what people desired for. The Arabs knew in their hearts what they did not want without knowing in details the life they wanted to live. No new Constitution, as an alternative to the existing one, was in place or ready to be discussed among many; no potential new Government was ready to take over responsibilities from one to the next moment leaving a deadly and dangerous vacuum for power hungry people on the battle field to conquer the future development of a Nation.

The British Constitution (does not exist in formal form in one book) mandates the Opposition to form a Shadow Cabinet presenting itself to the Voters as a better and well prepared alternative to the existing Government ready to take over the Responsibilities of the country and move on with the job. The UK Referendum of leaving the EU was a decision taken on paper in Polling Stations, nevertheless a drastic change in the direction UK wants to go in future even only backed by small winning margin. The transition from one Prime Minister to the new current one and the discussions inside Labour Party shows and gives a Text Book example of Civil Unrest and a certain form of Revolution in a Democratic Framework when the underlining principles are met, readiness and preparedness leaving emotions and head on collisions behind. Magna Charta of 1215 (“No Taxation without Representation”) was setting the tone for what we can observe today on the big island, the fifth riches nation on earth.

African Societies should carefully study recent and current European developments to understand, even during the given mandate to a President and Party, the process can and sometimes has to be stopped by taking over of a better alternative not having to waste precious time for the next election. Everyday humans are born and others die. Life is not endless on earth but precious to GOD for which reason it is not a playground for anybody wanting power and money into their own hands.

The Coup in Turkey on July 14^th/ 15^th this year is another dramatic event demonstrating clearly the immaturity of a large number of people about political processes to make them successful to engage in radical but peaceful at the same time strategies to benefit all in a country.

It must be hoped for that in Africa there will be enough intellectual capacity to come (most African Political Scientist do not understand even these basic issues…sad) to turn around the faith of its people and stop living under a bubble hub filled with hot air and the same nonsense year in and year out. Africans deserve better!

Author: Dipl.-Pol. Karl-Heinz Heerde, Sakumono Estate, Block D10, Aprt. 9, Tema West, Ghana, [email protected] , phone +233(0)265078287, 21.07.2016