Western style “democracy” is destroying Africa. It seems everywhere you look in Africa you see elections marked by violence and bloodshed. “Buy, rig or steal” is the name of the game and if that doesn’t work, send in the French army and UN “peacekeepers” and rocket the presidential residence and just take over by brute force.
“Democracy” is supposed to mean that the leaders of a nation do what their people want them to do.
If you ask almost all Africans what they want most from their leaders they will tell you;
1) Enough food to eat.
2) Clean water to drink
3) A roof over their heads
4) Accessible and affordable medical care
5) Education for their children
Elections are way down on the list of grassroots African priorities.
Food, water, shelter and medical care, if a countries leadership is getting these priorities taken care of then they are actually practicing democracy and if they don’t provide these services to their people they are not democratic, no matter the praised heaped on them by their neo-colonial masters in the west.
All of the nations of Africa except one are caught in the western elections trap. And all of Africa except one is bleeding, and in more than one way.
Many if not most African countries pay more in interest on their debts to western banks than the combined total of all expenditures on medical care and education.
Many if not most African countries suffer from food dependency, they do not grow enough food to feed their people.
Many if not most African countries are economic basket cases, even Nigeria with its oil, staggering from one western bankster emergency bailout to another.
Everywhere you look in Africa it seems you see conflict and war and everywhere you look you see western style “democracy”, elections.
It is so bad then when an election is held without a major outbreak of violence it is considered a “victory for African democracy” even if the serving president is the only one on the ballot (see “Liberia; Plenty ‘democracy’, No electricity”).
After WWII, the western colonialists found out the hard way that they couldn’t continue to militarily occupy their “possessions”, so they created neocolonialism to control Africa and used western style “democracy” to run it.
Traditionally, Africans practiced their own forms of “democracy”, most often via a council of elders persuading all parties to arrive at a consensus where everyone got something.
It wasn’t a win or lose situation like takes place in a western style election.
Being that all parties agreed to the final decision, all parties were duty bound to respect and enforce what they had agreed to, and thus the peace was kept and folks got along with each other.
As for national decisions, there were kings or high chiefs who almost always consulted a council of tribal or clan elders. In many societies, and this was a society of villages, there were oftentimes chiefs, but still the most often used dispute resolution was consensus, a mediation by elders. Peace was maintained and societal unity preserved.
Western “democracy” in Africa creates just the opposite. In Kenya, the Kikuyu, an ethnic minority installed in power by the departing British empire has to win the election or risk losing everything to their larger tribal rivals, the Luo. The result? Elections and thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. This upcoming election may see even worse.
The Congo? Ethiopia? Even that supposed success story for African Democracy, Senegal, saw blood in the streets.
Yet there is one island of peace and stability in the midst of all this chaos and crisis. One place where the people of the country, especially the people of the villages, still some 70%, will tell you that the government has kept its promises, and the proof is there for all to see. The solar powered wells, the micro dams for irrigation, the medical clinics and schools, all are spreading to even the most remote villages.
HIV/AIDS down by 40%, the best in Africa by a mile, malaria mortality down 80%, the biggest breakthrough in malaria history. Maternal and infant mortality seeing “remarkable improvement” (from the World Bank, no less) and the Millennium Development goals all on track for achieving. And on top of this, the fastest growing economy in Africa.
The one real success story in Africa and the only country NOT to have elections.
Maybe, just maybe, not allowing western “democracy” is what it takes for Africa to succeed.
Eritrea and Eritreans want nothing to do with neocolonialism and “democracy” western style. No thanks, we have our own version of democracy, real democracy, and our people are seeing the benefits.
Paradise? No, life is still hard for most, but the very poorest are the priority and their lives have changed, dramatically.
In Africa the poor are most of the people and if you are not taking care of them first and foremost, you are NOT democratic.
If elections mean democracy, and sick and hungry children in their millions is business as usual than Eritreans will tell you to keep your “democracy”. This is about Africa’s one “undemocratic” country, where peace reigns and our lives are getting better, especially for those most in need.
Don’t shoot me, I am just the messenger, though a real believer in the message. I have lived here in Eritrea since 2006 and am telling you what I have witnessed and come to believe in.
Instead of falling into the western “democracy” trap, try taking an unbiased look at a role model here in Africa instead of another African victim, bleeding from neocolonialism.
So before I finish, let me pass on what is probably the only reliable firsthand account of how that Founder of American Democracy, Thomas Jefferson treated “his” Africans:
“After dinner the master [Jefferson] and I went to see the slaves plant peas. Their bodies dirty brown rather than black, their dirty rags, their miserable, hideous half-nakedness, these haggard figures, this secretive anxious air, the hateful timorous looks, altogether seized me with an initial sentiment of terror and sadness that I ought to hide my face from. Their indolence in turning up the ground with the hoe was extreme. The master [Jefferson] took a whip to frighten them, and soon ensued a comic scene. Placed in the middle of the gang, he menaced, and turned far and wide (on all sides) turning around. Now, as he turned his face, one by one, the blacks changed attitude; those whom he looked at directly worked best, those whom he half saw worked least, and those he didn’t see at all, ceased working altogether; and if he made an about-face, the hoe was raised to view, but otherwise slept behind his back”.
This firsthand account is from a founding member of the French “Society for Friendship with Blacks”, the first French antislavery organization. His name was Constantine Volney, and he was the publisher of that African-Centered classic historical work, “Ruins; Or, Meditations on the Revolutions of Empires” in 1791. It is a fascinating account about his visit to Africa’s Nile Valley before the last major desecrations began.
Being an honest, antiracist historian, Volney believed, based on what he saw with his own eyes in the Egyptian tombs and temples, that civilization began in Africa, on the banks of the Nile River.
In his own words; “It was there that a people, since forgotten, discovered the elements of science and art, at a time when all other men were barbarous, and that a race, now regarded as the refuse of society, because their hair is wooly and their skin is dark, explored among the phenomena of nature, those civil and religious systems which have since held mankind in awe”.
“Ruins” was one of the most widely read historical texts of the late 18th and early 19th century. It was published in 6 languages in over 15 editions.
Volney was eventually driven from the USA by the forerunner of the Undesirable Aliens Act, passed by a slave owner Congress still having difficulties achieving a good night’s sleep, haunted by dreams of the revolution in Haiti and the slaughter of their fellow slave owners by their erstwhile captives, Toussaint and his fellow Africans.
It remains a bitter fact that the works of Volney, one of history’s truly great scholars, remains a mystery to most all of today’s students.
To say that Thomas Jefferson was in any way a “progressive” in his day is to fly in the face of all that Volney stood for. Let us use Volney’s first hand recollection to once and for all provide a proper burial for the idea that the USA was founded by persons of noble character or democratic principles.
The USA was racist in essence at birth and remains racist in essence today. That despite a black American President, a black American Attorney General, a black American Supreme Court Justice, a black American UN Ambassador and multiple black military generals, it is only an illusion that anything has really changed for the masses of black folk in the USA.
And they want to export this slave owners’ democracy to Africa? At least here in Eritrea “we the people” know what we want and that is real democracy, taking care of all our people, starting with our neediest.
It is sad to hear from a westerner that Africans do not need Western democracy but just food and medicine. It is dehumanising and degrading. Your article is based on James Watson’s ideology (a noble prize winner for his part in unveiling DNA). Watson says, Western policies towards African countries were wrongly based on an assumption that black people were as clever as their white counterparts when “testing” suggested the contrary. You are suggesting we are not clever enough to understand Western democracy I am forced to respond to your article because I felt your view is dangerous and it is the same as the Nazists’ or white extremists view. In order to justify their evil deeds slave owners were saying, black people are happy if they just get food and shelter and for them slavery is as if they were doing the black Africans favor. For me democracy and freedom are inseparable. As an Eritrean we did not fight for thirty years in order to fulfill our biological need but it was for freedom and democracy.
I agree with Thomas C. Mountain, democracy starts governments by fulfilling basic stuffs to the people, i don’t need my country to run western style election because it brings caos that’s all, and i need my people to eat atleast three times a day, education, health facility, and Eritrea doing a great job, and NEOCON doesn’t work in Eritrea, we said no to neocon, that’s why they want to punnish Us and make us nil down by imposing sanction with our any reason.
I think you have already dehumanised and degraded yourself when you solely believe that the western democracy is the key to Africas success & development. Let me remind you one thing… “Rome was not built in a day!” And i don´t think you are such an ignorant to forget history what the sacrifices they western poeple have made to come thru what we are witness now to the industrialization achievements of the wests.
But to come to Africa & dictate you with their pretext “DEMOCRACY” how you could achieve the development is much worse degrading as an African than otherwise! So please wake up, after you have been living in the west for a while probably you would understand the stakes on this matter.
please don’t support the few remaining dictators
john
Yes, you are right western democracy is not the answer to african problems, actualy it is not going to work in Africa period. But the current government in Eritrea is not the choice of all Eritreans either, specialy when an Eritrean have more freedom elsewhere but in his own nation, was not the nation a dream about as kid.
Hi, its me Asmelash again. I forgot to mention in my earlier comment that I am an Ethiopian from the Tigray region. I’d like to apologize to all Eritreans for sticking my Ethiopian nose where it doesn’t belong. I’ve been under tremendous stress lately due to the mass uprising in my country Ethiopia, threatening to overthrow my government. None of which excuses me taking my frustration out on you. I’m sorry for that.
Mountain, you are the paid agent of Isaias. You have been writing all stupid things against the innocent Eritrean people. We know your name, your address, and how much you are paid per month. Right now we have no time for you. However, I can assure you, your days are numbered. We will take you to the appropriate place where you hear your verdict. Can you stop writing your stupid theory on our behalf. We have suffered enough because of you and your bosses. Enough is enough.
How is Thomas Mountain considered an independent journalist when he has been working as a (western) spokesman of Isayas’s government all along? Thomas, you have proven to be a remnant of those who ones thought Africans are nothing but commodities. Please lecture us on which ones (of components of democracy, human rights and rule of law) are western and which ones African’s. Who said that Africans do not deserve or do not have the capacity to take part in /form their own government? Or do you think we lack the capacity to know and appreciate the nexus between freedom of expression, right to liberty, right to movement, etc and food, water and others you attempted to list as components of rights Africans should be restricted to. Please I advise you not to get in to areas of law, politics, etc which seem to be completely outside the scope of your knowledge. Africans very well know the link between civil and political rights & social, economic and cultural rights. I undeniable that colonialism had its own impact in terms of creating problems in some parts of Africa to a certain degree. However, most of our problems are man made and are mostly caused by own own leaders who want to lead by fist and not laws of the land like Isayas Afeworki. More than three hundred thousand Eritreans are in national service for many years. As a result they have not been able to provide (food, clothing, etc) for their families. People have been rounded up from streets and put in detentions with out court orders for many years now, and that has now become a culture. We never had such things even before we got colonized. You are right traditionally we Africans had our own forms of democracy. But still people were not being denied their basic rights like what we see now in Eritrea. So, are the above problems caused by western countries? I can’t tell you how shallow your article is in all aspects.
I agree with Thomas M.
We do not need a false W.Democracy
Power to the people,specially the Eritreans..despite all the odds,they will prevail
thet are endowed with natural resources and hard working people.They are visionary……..
Thank you Mr Thomas. i agree with all you say. We Africa needs working goverment not robet or messenger. We can develop our own style.
To those who think this man is an “agent” of the presidents regime is nuts! Then you can say those who write bad about the PIA regime is an “agent” of Meles Zenawi. Long story short your phrase can be summarized to where all reports are “agents” of a regime??
Give Eritrea a break its seems like people look at the bad things of eritrea and magnetize it to the extreme, but when Eritrea does something good, many people act like it has never happened…..
Good Article!!
Very cheap and absurd writing! Sir, you are doing a lousy job in your attempt to rerught facts that are obvious and speak loud. I could go on and on to list the facts for you but that won’t be usefu for you know the true facts like you know your palm. In fact, aren’t you hired by Mr isayas (hitler’s reincarnation ) to twist the facts. You are a cheap man and you lack the ball to stand up to the facts! F ***ing mercinery!
A great article by a great man is all what I can say.
Mr Mountain, keep up your great work & care less about those who don’t like what they read.
Great analysis of how western style democracy is bound to fail in Africa. Africans have different needs than westerners. An undeveloped third world country who lacks running water, schools, with food shortages, hospitals and roads need to concentrate on building the infrastructure for growth and development. Elections don’t mean anything when there is no food to eat and no where to get medical treatment. Also elections in those African countries are stolen anyways. The winners ar not democraticall elected but rather stole the elections by silencing and killing their critics. Also the real winner in those elections is the candidate the West wants to win so the candidate can work with them. So the West helps the candidate secure the seat. Democracy is a rubbish term in Africa, it doesn’t work!
Mr. Mountain,
Great job, I totally agree with your analysis. Keep exposing the so called “Western Democracy” that is destroying our continent. No need to worry about the truth haters who are blinded with greed.
be nice to amerika, or…..
http://tinyurl.com/y3zzpwu
Mr Mountain,
If you were an independent journalist,you would not be allowed to live in Eritrea. I have read a number of articles of yours about Eritrea.Clearly,you are a paid agent of the regime, in Eritrea.THERE IS NO INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST IN ERITREA,PERIOD.
You better stop trying to lecture us the hierarchy of needs.You talk as if we are just in the enception of civilization. If you wish, you can go back to our history-it was one of the four biggest kingdoms in the world.
I agree at all wiht Thomas M and we need alot of time to do like western democracy.
As-mel-lash,
Open your eye and mind and see what happen in the last 2 years in Arab and northern Africa. Is that a real democracy? How many people are killed and how many are dying know? Democracy is not a piece of cake to give. People have to earned bring their own democracy.
Michael
Great Article,
BBC, CNN Neocons Propaganda News Mashine hate the TRuths. In the eyes of the West, the black man should allways live as beggar, so the West can stela africas resources.
Eritrea is different. Eritreas like to look for itself thats why the West put unjust sanctions on it. Eritrea will succesed because at the end of the day justice & True allways win.
God bless “Warsay Yikalo & the hard working People of Eritrea”
To make Eritrea real we paid extremely painful price.and the majority of Eritrean people has paid this price,Eritrean people is lucky,who have got a government, who keep its promise. Which gives priority to the forgotten people.long live issyas and those did not break their promise.
Thomas M
You Fuget Ass Whole Don’t play with Eritrean’s
You are in Eritrea. Your Eritrean Wife will do the Job.
T.O
Well said Thomas Mountain. You always eloquently put into words what most of us think. It’s true, we don’t want imported democracy. After all, this democracy hasn’t even helped the very people who live in the neighborhood of Capitol Hill. We want our own democracy that includes social justice for every Eritrean in every corner of Eritrea. And we’re seeing it being implemented today thanks to the steadfastness of Eritreans and our leadership. Just don’t expect Western media to tell you about it. Thank you.
if elections are violent there’s something wrong with the people not with the form of government.. The French army gets sent in to prevent the take over of Islamist Taureg guerillas in Mali, or Salaki rebels in CAR and that’s forcing democracy? The writer’s observation that Americans are racist is quite correct, especially in the light of his thinking Africa is not even capable of Western style democracy.
His point is not that Africa is not capable of “Western style democracy”. His point is to question whether “Western style democracy” is even desirable.
Sir,
How long are we, the people of the world, going to allow this so called “western democracy” ruin and destroy countries and lives? How can we put a stop to this? I am not African but I love that continent and always shed a tear or two when I read news of violence where many innocent Africans die while Western governments line their pockets with money. Africa has the capacity to provide the world with so much in all aspects of daily life and yet suffers in the hands of the West. We need to put a stop to this and help build an Africa that the world will be proud of.