Fifty Years of “Independence”: The rhetoric of Sarkozy and (Omar) Ali Bongo

Several countries across Africa including Cameroon are presently celebrating what is referred to as fifty years of “independence”. On February 24, 2010 it was the turn of Gabon, which also invited colonial master France. I listened with curiosity to the French President, Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sarkozy and Gabonese ruler (Omar) Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba.

In his brief toast, Sarkozy tacitly admitted that the neo colonial forces in Gabon and the rest of Africa have been partly responsible for the underdevelopment of the continent. According to him, a chapter is closed a new page turned. Remember, just immediately after his accession to power, he made such utterances when he talked of “rupture total” with hitherto former French colonies. (Omar) Ali Bongo likewise acknowledged in his own toast that indeed, a new page has opened. Such admissions concur to the fact that Gabon just like most African countries will not progress as expected unless the neo colonial strings are cut.

This is no blame game. Africans can do it but, the complex set of its leadership which promotes petty and grand corruption, foreign against national interest is the big set back.

As stated by Sarkozy, France is now for a relation of total transparency. What kind of transparency with regards to the operation of French companies in the African. For example, the French business politician cum lobbyist, Vincent Bollore, an ally of Sarkozy, practically controls the economy of most Francophone African countries. He virtually owns the Douala Seaport and a Cameroonian manager who opposed the privatization of some sections of the port to Bollore’s group; he was fired from his post. The circumstances under which several state companies were auctioned to his group and many others foreign “buyers” are very opaque and need total renegotiation.

What kind of transparency when French banks keep billions of stolen state from Africa. The French government is again squashing court cases brought against some African dictators who have illicit funds and property in the country.

Sarkozy talked of equality and mutual respect. This has never been the case as France continues to show total disrespect for Africans among whom are those who sacrificed their lives to safe France during WWII. While Sarközy verbally praised the veterans, French veterans continue to live in total affluence and veneration while African veterans continue to languish in misery. The French men even talked of some Gabonese military men going march-past in France as sign of cooperation.

Africans do not need such displays.

Mr Sarkozy equally reiterated that France will never interfere in issues of African countries but that has not been the case. Though he challenged anybody to prove that France had its candidate during the parody of elections in Gabon, he failed to note that France quietly sent in 300 paratroopers to Gabon when the late Gabonese dictator Omar Bongo was about to die. The French president cannot be talking of non interference in a country’s affairs yet maintaining arm forces in all its “former” colonies. These forces are a direct threat to the population. A clear case was the killing of unarmed Ivoirians (in their own country) when they rose against French interference in their country.

The French have always played double standards. They are now lobbying their International Court of (Selective) Justice at The Hague to charge the junta in Guinea for massacring civilians. Judging criminals is not bad though, but, the same French government and other western countries stayed quiet after the Cameroon government massacred civilians in February 2008 during a protest that rocked the country. The role of the French in the Rwandan genocide was denounced by current Rwandan government thought though France continues to deny any involvement.

Inasmuch as African civilian and military dictators continue to collaborate with most western countries for the expropriation of resources, the latter and its affiliated bodies will never see them as evil. These accomplices should leave with their troops so that we can handle these regimes.

Such duplicity has harmed us so much.

One of the scars of the Franco-Africa neo-colonial relationship is the nonsense called France-Afrique which was indeed hailed by (Omar) Ali Bongo as a strong heritage during the event. Yet, Bongo is talking of change. Africans need to get up for veritable transformation not the misguided event which happened in the 60s and Harold Macmillan erroneously took it for a wind of change.

Things Africans should ask themselves

After 50 years, less than 15 percent of the population of each country is covered by social security.

After 50 years of horrible health services, African leaders, family and allies continue to fly out for treatment.

After 50 years, there is no kilometre of tarred road without potholes.

After 50 years, companies producing raw material have not been able to move to the stage of producing finished goods.

After 50 years of so called technical schools, not even a spinner, bridge, fly over, an appliance have been produced.

After 50 years, most African countries have seen less than 3 leaders each; Cameroon (2).

After 50 years, some countries have had more than 6 coup d’états.

After 50 years, some presidents continue to manipulate the constitution to stay for life.

After 50 years our borders remain open for clinical trials and “vaccines” which have instead caused havoc and spread diseases.

After 50 years, police, taxation, custom officials continue to extort the population.

After 50 years, many companies have closed down than it was 50 years ago.

After 50 years, most African leaders continue to connive with foreigners and companies to destroy their people.

President Obama in Africa: beyond “yes we can”, yes we must

Africa can, yes, we can, as President Obama said Saturday July 11 on his maiden visit to Africa, the continent from where his father hails, and a continent he was visiting at most, for his fifth time and the first time as the President of the United States of America.

I understand the choice of Ghana was certainly motivated by the country’s democratic rule, stability and progress but again due to the discovery of oil and the need to sign juicy contracts with the now oil rich nation. The expectations of the people of Ghana have been high as they hope to improve relations, demand for fair and balance economic cooperation with the strongest nation on the planet earth.

President Obama was categorical as he said, “No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves…” . African needs viable and reliable institutions and not tyrants as President Obama insinuated.

That is certainly true because Africa’s current colonial administrators are just was bad as the colonial masters were. However, when we look as the fiscal heavens created by corrupt leaders and supported by wealthy but corrupt nations too, which have in a great way impoverished developing nations, then, there are several unanswered questions. When you examine the dysfunctionalities, there is so much questioning.

Areas like Jersey, Monaco, Geneva, Munich, London, Delaware etc are among the top ranking places where illicit funds are kept and banking transactions made in almost no respect with basic legal and moral banking principles like not accepting money from doubtful sources.

President Obama should make it possible for his country to sign agreements with other African countries so that bank accounts and assets of all Africans especially those holding positions of responsibility or who have held positions of responsibility to be tracked at anytime.

For some time now, rich but corrupt countries holding stolen funds have always refused to collaborate with countries from where the funds have been stolen on the pretext of complicated legislations.

The answer simple: The host countries always want to own the money and other real estates gotten from embezzlers. That is why funds belonging to thieves like Mobuto, Abacha, Bongo etc have been virtually owned by host countries.

It is our wish to see Mr. Obama use his influence and that of his country to suggest modifications on the imperialist policies of institutions like the UN Security Council, World Trade Organisation the Breton woods etc. Africa needs fair trades not financial aide, which have greatly damage the continent

As Mr. Obama rightly put it, the final say for the development of Africa rests in the hands of Africans. However, only a revolution is needed because of the visible and invisible forces of colonialism piloted by the successive neo colonial leaders in most of the continent since independence and who have plundered Africa.

When Mr Nicolas Sarkhozy was elected President of France, he talked of "rupture" with most African countries. Many were optimistic that at least such rupture would permit many francophone African countries like Cameroon, Cote D ' Ivoire etc to take off.

However, they came to realise that it was just political talk for the time being. Some of these politicians are so eloquent especially at cajoling or attracting attention.

Most of these current colonial leaders in Africa would certainly not want transparent and accountable leadership because that is not was handed over to them or the instructions they are receiving from the invisible forces.

But, with the growing discontent in the continent, the imminent breaking of the colonial bond to establish the kind of transparent leadership Obama talked about will be a relieve.

When we look at way in which corruption in Ghana was drastically reduced, the person who deserves the credit, Jerry Rawlings, had to kind of close up his country and dealt with the state thieves in a merciless manner.

I strongly believe that dealing with those embezzling state funds should not be different from dealing with murderers and arm robbers because I have seen the pains inflicted on people who would have otherwise been saved by the judiciously use of their state resources.

President Obama’s message is a clarion call for that revolution, but, I believe the visible and invisible neo colonial forces and institutions have to also be destroyed.

The story of the Cameroon port is a sad one. Inasmuch as corrupt officials have managed the port inefficiently, the efforts of nationalistic and pro Cameroon development oriented manager like Etoundi Oyono who resisted the privatisation of one of the port facilities to the French Bolore group met stiff resistance from the visible French neo colonial force. These forces virtually control our “president”.

Nationalistic, vision-action oriented but pro-development leaders will work on the continent's agricultural sector, infrastructure, health, science and technology. They will put the interest of the country first as they negotiate any deals.

On the hand, neo colonial leaders would sow impunity, corruption, embezzlement, make the country dependent; put their country into debts etc. All these because at least they know or they feel their children and their family and friends are one-step in and one out, in case of any chaos. Those are the leaders most of Africa has as of now.

Nevertheless, the bitter truth is, let “former” colonial masters leave their “former” territories alone. No, to neo colonial institutions like WTO, IMF etc. No, to neo colonial leaders. Yes, to transparency, human rights, people empowerment, etc.

Yes, Africa can revolt against current misleading leadership and their shady deals that have impoverished the continent. Beyond the yes, we can, yes, we must implement the said changes to move forward