In Africa, Christmas Means War

It's so shameful that as children all over the world are happily celebrating Christmas, their counterparts in SOUTH SUDAN are having sleepless nights. Extreme hunger and fear has worsened their already malnourished bodies.War here, war there war everywhere!!! What the hell is happening to the African continent?

Its been only three years since South SUDAN gained independence from SUDAN making it the youngest Country in the world and also one of the poorest. There has been a senseless power struggle between President Kiir and his former vice Macher. Typical of African politicians, they incite one ethnic group against the other to gain support in executing their parochial, selfish and wicked political agenda. Just as it happened in Rwanda, South Sudan is likely to follow suit. President Kiir from the Dinka ethnic majority is battling his sacked vice president from the Nuer ethnic minority. President Kiir accused his vice of plotting a coup and subsequently relieved him of his position. He has called on his fellow Dinka tribal members to rise up against a Nuer ethnic minority trying to overthrow the Dinka majority. It's no longer a political war but has been fueled into an ethnic war. Innocent people have already died and the numbers are likely to rise if the current situation is not addressed. The African union, a toothless dog of an association is doing relatively nothing in tackling this issue.

Libya is still boiling although the alleged 'western media branded devil' Gaddafi is dead. Egypt has never known peace since Hosny Mubarak's overthrow and Muhammad Mursi's illegal incarceration. Tuareg rebels continue to terrorize northern Mali. Central African Republic is still in flames whiles Somalia still battles the insurgency of the Islamic militancy youth Al-Shabab. Ghanaians still have in mind how statesman Prof Kofi Awoonor was gunned down in far away Kenya by Al Shabab. Don't call me the prophet of doom but expect Boko Haram to strike once again in northern Nigeria as they have been characteristically known for Christmas bombings with churches and Christian communities their usual targets.

Can't we have a single year in Africa without conflicts, mayhem and violence? Are we cursed as a people? Could it also be human greed, wickedness and selfishness that continue to set us along the lines of violence? Are unseen hands and faces behind the violence in Africa? From the North of Africa Egypt cries for peace,from the East Somalia dreams of a day without Al Shabab, northern Nigeria in the west hopes for a Christmas without Boko Haram whiles Mali and Central African Republic pray for peace.

It's worrying what's happening to Africa. We can never develop with the prevalence of war. We shall continue to beg for aid from so called foreign donors and still be slaves in snow-white lands as immigrants unless we change our attitude as a people.

A nation and continent calls for duty now!!!!

God bless our homeland Ghana and make Africa wise and strong.

Kwadwo Nketiah Michael. ([email protected])