Away with foreign military bases and foreign troops in Africa

There is almost no African country (especially Francophone Africa) without the presence of foreign troops or these funny military bases said to have been built based on bilateral relations and protection. I wonder how many military bases we have in Europe, America etc.

As part of tightening the grip on Africa, which has been auctioned to imperialists by the neo colonial ruling aristocratic class, is the authorisation by these regimes most of whose legality and legitimacy is highly questioned, to allow foreign troops station in the various countries in the continent.

For God sake, most people cannot just comprehend why troops meant to defend their various nations and citizens are shipped or flown to another country and stationed there.

The usual flimsy excuses are that they want to protect their citizens or interests abroad.

What interests and which citizens?

So any country with its interests or citizens abroad should fly and station troops in those countries? No right thinking sovereign leaders will accept foreign troops in their land, nor will their people do even they were to be consulted.

BBC news recently reported that the French government “quietly” flew in paratroopers to Gabon in January [2009]. Of course, France has a military base in Gabon and other parts of Africa. They have oil and other trade deals there and with time winding for Africa’s longest serving president Omar Bongo, there is the fear of uncertainty. As a result, they have to station their troops there.

This is the same in Cameroon where French troops are equally present and said to be “helping” Cameroonian forces.

Most Cameroonians certainly do not want colonial troops in their land. This should not be interpreted as meaning ending collaboration with France, though some may still want it that way.

This goes the same for Cote D ‘Ivoire and we know what the colonial troops did on Ivoirians when they protested against their presence. Several unarmed people were killed.

Once more for God sake, let troops stay within their territorial borders and protect their citizens.

In essence, foreign troops are not there for the protection other citizens but as part of the ongoing neo-colonisation process. France is not alone though.

These troops are also said to be in Afrca to among other things protect expatriates. Hhmm. Some of these so-called expatriates operate and behave almost as if they are their in own country/different state with terrible and very disrespecting utterances at times. A state cannot not exist within a state.

Some, especially ambassadors tend to substitute themselves for what I do not know.

Some of these colonial troops arm rebels in different countries push the rebels to rise against government rule then they come in as mediators or a peacekeeping forces or forces clearly supporting a particular side.

These troops have brought no changes on the lives of the people, on the contrary, they have instilled fear, uncertainty and above all, a renewed a sense of confidence and courage for the leaders who are also hosts of the troops to loot their countries.

Africa desperately needs leaders who will think about their people, not a colonial- relay type of leaders whose only wisdom is in starching state funds in foreign banks and seeking protection of foreign troops to protect their interest in the country.

In my opinion, foreign troops should only be station on temporal basis where there is war and if the stationing of any such troops will aggravate the situation, then foreign troops should not even go there.

Regional troops can be tolerated to an extend but allowing troops from another continent is really funny.

The West, allegations, corruption and resignations

As we make efforts to build a society comfortable for all to live, there is the need to copy good examples and shun bad ones. I know the West is very strong at manipulating African stooges-leaders to impoverish their people and enrich the former to the silence of the complacent Western media who would prefer to focus on corruption and sufferings of Africans. That is not what we should copy though and not my bond of contention, at least for now.

Right thinking people must certainly be impressed with the way most western countries and generally, the so called developed nations make efforts to develop their country and fight for a just and equitable society for their people.

Corruption is something which is inevitable in all societies but the difference is that, while some countries make efforts at fighting corruption in their various countries while using their might to promote corruption in other countries, some leaders are themselves supporting corruption in their countries.

The recent evolution of the corruption scandals in the UK where ministers, senior government officials and MPs who abused their power and corruptly used taxpayers money is a wonderful step to follow. Some have been forced to resign, others sacked or forced to refund the money.

This is the case of British Labour MP David Chaytor who has been suspended pending investigation into money for mortgage he claimed which had already been paid.Some of President Obama's nomiminees turned down the offer because of coreutpion investigations not even charges.

This is something, which is unheard of in most developing countries and particularly, Cameroon. Recently, controversy shrouded the Minister of Communication, Jean Pierre Biyitti Bi Essam who is said to have mismanaged funds meant for the coverage of the Mach 2009 visit of the Pope Benedict XVI. He also admitted to have put put state money in his private account for what he described as security reasons. His case is not isolated.

Unlike resigning and preparing a clear stage for transparent investigations, what we have seen in Cameroon is the division of the press and the society between those for him and those against him. Corrupt ministers and senior state officials continue clinging to their posts at all cost.

Even the current manager of Petroleum storage company (SCDP) J. P. Nguina Effa whose records state auditors judged as highly stained was maintained in his position as General of SCDP to the embarassement of milions of Cameroonians.

What is again disturbing is the position taken by some of morally bankrupt intellectuals like a senior journalist who on state television said “ In Britain ministers also steal, people should leave our ministers alone” referring to the frequent cases of corruption allegations published in the press in Cameroonian. Some may be fabricated but most of these allegations have elements of truth.

Several, if not all of Cameroonian ministers both past and present have been involved in terrible financial scandals.Even the ministers said to be championing the fight against corruption. However, none has ever bothered to resign to have his name cleared first. This has been enabled by the cultural of impunity put in place since November 1982. Magistrates and judges never resign even when it is soclear that they have acted against the law by passing judgements which are in themmselves abuses to the law and the people. MPs are not better because most are illegitimiate and even illegal respresentatives of the people.

What again make things complicated for Cameroon is the resolve of the President Biya is who has always asked for prooves rather than even investigate his ministers after several allegations of fraud and corruption.

Their questionable extravagance, real estates ownership, automobile parks etc have never meant any thing for him. A country, whose billionaires are on the contrary, civil servants rather than hard working business executives. In a few cases of investigations, reporters are never published.

At least, inasmuch as we criticise the west, let us copy some of these good examples. Making sure that we give the best to our people and make everything transparent in the country.

Our country, our people, our continent first.