South Africa

A couple of stories that caught my eyes in the last couple of days:

When observers of Africa want to point to a country that represents a success story, they often point to Botswana, by and large for good reasons. Stephanie Hanson of the Council on Foreign Relations investigates whether beneath the surface the picture is more complicated, especially the economic picture for the country’s masses.

IRIN, meanwhile, looks at Liberia’s truth commission. Liberia’s commission has the power to recommend that individuals face prosecution, which represents a different approach from that taken in South Africa, the example I know best.

Is there hope for real progress in Liberia? Ever since Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf took office, there have been signs of progress. In Today’s Boston Globe Carolyn Norris, West Africa Project director and Mark L. Schneider, senior vice president of the International Crisis Group, indicate that while there is much yet to be accomplished the small steps continue apace. This would, naturally, be fantastic news for on eof West Africa’s most beleaguered states.

The Mail & Guardian has several stories (see here, here, here, and here) about Steve Biko’s life, death, legacy, and his meaning for South Africans today on a whole host of issues, including crime and politics. 

Meanwhile mysterious rumors are beginning to swirl about a “counter-revolution” against the ANC. ANC paranoia? Politics as usual in a still young state? Opposition party fantasy? Media dream story? Probably a combination of all of these, truth be told.  Stay tuned . . .

Liberia’s former President, Charles Taylor, one of Africa’s most ruthless thugs (a bold claim, to be sure) will go on trial at a UN-backed Special Court at the Haguie next week. He will face war crimes charges stemming back to his years as Liberia’s Big Man. A couple of colorful quotations reveal the loathing that taylor inspires among Africans:

“This man called Charles Taylor is a monster.” — Sierra Leonean Adama Turay, whose son and daughter both had hands amputated by RUF rebels.

“I am very happy to see this man is at that court. He needs to be killed rather than fed each day.
Whatever a man soweth, so shall he reap …. Men acting on his order killed many people … That should tell you how wicked that man was.“  — Monrovia resident Rosetta Smith, whose husband was beaten to death by members of an Anti-Terrorist Unit operating under Taylor.

Not all are thrilled with the trial — some fear that it will become a circus, others believe that the trial represents a misallocation of resources, some fear that taylor will be acquitted. But on the whole I would argue that bringing taylor to justice sends the best possible message in light of the atrocities for which Taylor bears responsibility, whether direct or indirect.

Swanee Hunt, director of the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and chairwoman of The Initiative for Inclusive Security, published an op-ed piece in today’s  <i>Boston Globe</i> praising the progress Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, “Ma Ellen,” has made in Liberia in her first year as that country’s president:

Despite 14 years of civil war, Johnson-Sirleaf demonstrated that she is capable of leading Liberia into new possibilities. Her government embraces minorities and opposition members. She has initiated sweeping anti corruption reforms as well as initiatives to resettle and reintegrate tens of thousands of refugees and ex-combatants. Sanctions on timber have been lifted. Her administration has begun training new security forces, restored electricity and water to parts of the capital, substantially increased primary school enrollment, and begun to rebuild roads. She has increased government revenues by more than 40 percent; and not only is foreign aid streaming in, there’s even a growing trickle of foreign investment.

For more on Liberia, go here.