“Why Kenya’s doing Bashir’s laundry?” by Nkwazi Mhango‏

Wrangles evidenced recently between Kenyan Judiciary and the executive over the ruling that Sudanese strong man, Omar Bashir, be apprehended shall he visit Kenya, left many analysts flabbergasted. One judge, Ncholas Ombija, made a historical ruling when ordered the Minister for Internal Security to see to it that when Bashir sets foot on Kenyan soil, he be apprehended and handed over to The Hague to face the music. We used to read about such rulings made by European judges, famous ones being those that were made by Spanish Judge Fernando Andreu, and French judge Jean-Louis Bruguière, who in April 2008 and November 2006 respectively, indicted Rwandan President, Paul Kagame. When these two justices indicted Kagame, many people wrongly thought that this was a venue for only European judges. Now that Ombija has open Pandora’s Box for our bigwigs, who will be safe?

More on Kenyan justice, this historical ruling did not augur well with the executive. When cornered the vulture cries wolf. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs was quotes as saying that the government would not abide by the ruling of its own court. What a dangerous stance? The Minister went on saying that Kenya will abide by the position that was taken by AU opposing the indictment of Bashir. How can a free country endanger its freedom for the sake of an individual who is not its citizen? Legally and logically, the constitution of Kenya is above that of AU. Whatever Kenyans do, Kenya comes first. Even if we look at two international instruments playing in this fracas, why is Kenya upholding AU’s non-binding decision whilst it violates Roma Statutes that Kenya signed voluntarily? Why is it that Kenya wants to abuse its own new constitution before even it marks a year? Why doesn’t Kenya do like Uganda that distanced itself when Bashir was invited to a conference in Kampala. Uganda successfully avoided unnecessary legal and political wrangling.

Again, Kenya is a member of East African Community. Doesn’t it see that by doing what one of its counterparts avoided, it is offending the same counterpart? It is shocking and sad that the Minister does not get it that AU has lost its legitimacy so as to support illegitimate regimes, even when they have committed atrocities against their people as it is the case with Bashir. Many were shocked to hear such law-breaking and self-inculpatory words coming from the Minister. To add insult to injury, thereafter, the Minister for Foreign Affairs was dispatched to Khartoum to mend fences. If anything, though the government in Nairobi is still flexing its muscles, the dent… deep and humongous one… has already been made. Will it be wise for the government that came to power after vanguishing dictatorship to taint its image in the defence of a dictator just the same as the one it toppled? Isn’t this high order hypocrisy?

Will Kibaki uphold the constitution and serve the Kenyans that voted for him or trumple over it and serve Sudanese strong man, and for what reasons and gains? Chances are that the executive is waging a losing battle for its peril thanks to the fact that the justice made his decision based on the provisions of the new constitution. Therefore, whoever advises Kibaki should be wise to underscore the fact that, under the new constitution, nobody is above the law. If the executive is still thinking by using the past-frozen brain when the president was above the law and the executive above judiciary, needs to be told that things have long changed. Although Kibaki spoiled the party at the promulgation of new constitution by inviting Bashir, why should he add more salt to injuries? By then thanks to the euphoria Kenyans were in, he got away with it. Will he get away with it once again? The answer is nope. Logically, it doesn’t add up even make sense for Kibaki to dent his image siding with a stinking dictator indicted for committing genocide against his own peole. What transpired in 2008 seems to have not given a lesson to Kibaki and all those that think that they can take the hoi polloi for a ride.

Moreover, chief justice Dr. Willy Mutunga has already weighed in very heavily and categorically so to speak. Responding to rants that the executive were not thinking about complying with the ruling, Mutunga was quoted as thus: “The Judiciary and its officers shall not be intimidated to bend the law”. To make his message clear, Mutunga added that Kenya must choose between anarchy and the rule of the law. Suppose the executive stick on their guns, will the judiciary allow itself to be cowered or stiff its neck and therefore create a crisis especially at this time Kenya is at war with al-Shabaab? What is the right thing to do under such circumstances?

In essence, Kenya has nothing to lose by dumping Bashir. We all know that Kenya is a major economc and political player in South Sudan. Shall it keep on thinking it can serve two masters namely Bashir and South Sudan? It should not wonder when South Sudan decided to part ways with it. For the French sage has it that “les amis des mes sont mes amis”, namely the friends of my friends are my friends. What of the enemies of my friends? They are obvious my enemies.

In sum, let us face it: will the Kenyan executive seal ignore the truth and go on defending Bashir by violating its own constitution? What precedent does the executive make in the first place? What legacy is Kibaki making? It time to warn Kenya that doing Bashir’s laundry will leave it messy and stinky.

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.

“Welcome South Sudan, then Darfur” by Nkwazi Mhango

South Sudan’s seceding is more a fact that a thought. It is unstoppable. Come January 9th, southerners, as they’ve already indicated, will vote for freedom. Yeah. Freedom. Everybody wants to be free and, of course, everybody deserves to be free. Freedom means, among other things, honour, sense of belonging and deciding one’s destiny.

This being the truth, what will the North do? It must be noted. Northern Africans calling themselves Arabs or Jallaba, for long have enslaved, killed, robbed, raped and subjugated southerners. In doing this, they forgot one cardinal thing: all goodies they thought are God given come from the South. Look at oil, farm produce, water, pastures for their animals and what not.

Though in the beginning northerners rebuffed the idea of independence of southern Sudan, now that it is the fact, it is time for them to lick their wounds. Notorious and obnoxious north has always been, it is time for it to behave well. For even Arabs who used to brainwash and use them, will go where yum yum is: the south.

We’re encouraged by the stance taken by Sudanese dictator Omar Bashir, shall he live up to his promise of honouring the verdict of the people in the coming referendum.

To us, freedom of South Sudan is the stepping stone for the freedom of Abyei, Nuba Mountains and Darfur. What agonize to the bone is what BBC recently reported, if it is true, that the southern Sudanese new regime has promised Bashir not to support the Darfur rebels. This is tarnishing the good name and promise this 54th new nation has. If other countries supported and helped SPLA, what is wrong with helping Dafuris? Is this better than thou or reporting out of context? Obviously, some can assert that when SPLA was fighting Khartoum, Darfur was in bed with Bashir thanks to his propagation of Islam. They, so too, goofed. They need to be forgiven.

I vividly remember the words of the late John Garang de Mabior as if he said them just yesterday. He was addressing the war prisoners from the north and some government soldiers from Darfur. He told them that what they are fighting for was not Islam, but criminality dressed in the good suit of Islam. He went further to saying that once the North is done with SPLA, they would turn to Darfur thanks to being regarded as slave, simply because they don’t identify themselves with Arab. And indeed, this messianic prophecy was fully fulfilled even before his demise. For after signing the CPA, Khartoum turned to Darfur with new vim and zeal. To cut a long story short,what followed is history.

After all, Khartoum has always supported anti-SPLA elements to see to it that the south does nary go solo. What’s wrong with supporting Darfur? We understand. Salva Kiir Mayardit and south Sudanese are mature and brave people. Being that is not the end in itself. They need others, especially east Africa and other Sudanese states under siege.

So too, they need to abide by the law of reciprocity whereas they are duty bound to help their brethren in Darfur. Their enemy is one and the same. They all suffer the same anathema thanks to being black, not a bit lighter like those Arab-duped northerners. If, indeed, it is true that GOSS intends to expel Darfur fighters, this will indeed defeat its zeal of being an ideal new nation.

We urge south Sudanese not to tarnish their good image. In Africa we have a great saying that when you come across the stick that was used to whack your colleague, you burn it. In this case the adage tells it all. Don’t entertain or spare the stick that whacked your friend or neighbour as it has been the case in Sudan.

Look at the accompanying map and decide where real life lies. North needs South more than South needs North. So whatever North is promising, it’s not just because it’s willingly. It’s just because it has no other way.

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.

Sudan Referendum

Interesting documentary about Sudan and it’s upcoming referendum on January 9th.

Why is AU doing Bashir’s dirty laundry?

This is none than African Union (AU) Chief Jean Ping. This gentleman originates from Gabon, the country that suffered a great deal more thanks to be manned and ruined by one dictator, that was succeeded by his son after his death. Thus, he’s suffering from this experience of being timid and an instrument of the dictatorship.

I firstly reprimanded Mr Ping in January this year when he equated South Sudanese freedom with sitting on a powder keg. Many sane people thought the AU would shut up, put up or pack up after it openly supported Sudanese strongman Omar Bashir when, on 04 March 2009, The International Criminal Court ( ICC) issued an arrest warrant in conjunction with the genocide he committed in Darfur. So too many thought the same would at least feel ignominy thanks to keeping mum for good twenty-one years as Bashir felled thousands of innocent people in South Sudan not to mention his apartheid system of discrimination against them.

No doubt. Mr Ping must have the courage of the mad to cry such hooey of such proportions. How can he add salt to the injury caused by Bashir for long while his outfit took a pew aside and laughed and still take himself as doing the right thing? Is this fair really?

If this puerile way of thinking is the typical replica of the mindset we have, then “cry for Africa”. It is even sad to note that such cheap and dangerous propaganda are promulgated by such organ that has always been a let down for Africa. AU is always hellbent to mercilessly shoot down or zap the desire for South Sudan to realize her autonomy and honour. AU that has nary united any part of Africa should however nary worry. For the new nation of South Sudan is welcome to the bubbly East African community where it feels more secured and at home than Khartoum. This is where it naturally belongs.

Let us look at his backward looking argument clinically. Mr Ping was quoted recently as saying: “From the outset we’ve argued in favour one of the options, making (Sudan’s) unity attractive.” Sadly, Mr Ping uttered the same during the events of marking African Day.

It shocks to find that such a so-regarded as senior diplomat, can’t understand or even respect the democratic rights of the people of South Sudan to decide for themselves what they want. Even the butcher he is trying to defend, Bashir, recently admitted that shall South choose to go solo, he will support and honour their decision.

Mr. Ping is worried. He added: “That’s a major problem for all African countries which could be confronted by similar situations, that’s what concerns us.” He was referring to the fact that South Sudanese seem stay put to see to it that she goes solo from apartheid Sudan, which has for long been perpetrated by pro-Arab black Africans regarding  themselves Arab, whilst they actually are not.

He added his fears when he said: “Such a decision could lead us again to a number of major difficulties, including war.” One thing is imminent. South Sudanese desire to be free can only be stopped and foiled by a miracle but not human machinations. It is too late to urge South Sudan to cool her jet.

Why doesn’t AU want to face the truth that wars in Africa have always been caused by dictatorship, corruption, incompetency, impotency, lunacy, duplicity, greed and what not as far as manning Africa is concerned? Our wildcat diplomats are always horsing around attending shoptalks in the name of Africa as they leave us conned and robbed. Fault them. They will come with huffing and puffing stuff all aimed at getting away with it. They will pummel lies and threats as Mr Ping is trying to do.

Importantly, it must be clearly understood that Africa can nary return her mojo back when she’ll get and have reasonable, accountable, responsible, visionary, reasonable and civilized leaders. Not plundering dictators and Johnny-come-late things in power as it currently has.

Therefore, shall individuals or states keep on supporting such bloodletting regimes as they plunder and commit genocide like it happened in Sudan. We must introduce new laws dealing with all those with genocide philosophy or those that abet with those that committed and their criminal solidarity. Dirty laundry already done for Bashir is enough. In simple parlance, shall individual or states keep on supporting Bashir, they must be indicted by ICC.  This is the only way out of this megalomania.

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.

“AU: Sudan powder keg!” by Nkwazi Mhango

In an interview with French broadcaster RFI recently, AU commission chairman Jean Ping was quoted as thus: “We have a feeling that we are sitting on a powder keg.”

It is true. But who’s to blame in the first place? AU has always sits on many powder kegs such as, Madagascar, Western Sahara Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe just to mention but a few. Unfortunately, it hasn’t learned from the past experience in which it always maintained its double standard and flip-flop. Will this prevent a baby from taking a Hoober-Bloober Highway? Noway. The baby must be born despite all pangs the mummy is to go through.

“Will the independence of Southern Sudan not lead other players in Darfur and in other places, which are currently not asking for independence, to seek independence as Southern Sudan will have done?”

This is but pure water and on whatever foundation this shallow thought is under-girded, won’t move things forward. What emollient claptrap! By the way, where was AU and what constructive role did it play when things were taking this turn? Why didn’t this happen when Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia? If it is a solution, so be it. AU was told to intervene fully in Darfur and it didn’t apart from sending a weak contingent. Instead, many of heads of states making AU are openly supporting Sudanese butcher Omar Bashir. They’ve ganged behind him to see to it that he is not being submitted to ICC for fear of others to follow thereafter.

Ping and all the likes, agog and gaga, tell it to the birds. The people of South Sudan have to decide their destiny and so be it. I know many opportunists would like to team up with the top dogs (Bashir) to underrate underdogs (Mayardit). But again, who knows? Today’s top dog can become an underdog and the underdog of today becomes the top dog of tomorrow. We’ll soon see this in Sudan, pronto.

While AU is playing schnook role, Bashir despite all is upbeat. He’s quoted as thus: “We will work to make unity attractive to all Sudanese, but we will respect the wish of southerners whatever the outcome and we will be the first to recognize such a southern state.”

Bashir said the same at a rally marking the 5th anniversary of the peace pact that ended more than 20 years of civil war between the north and south on 21st January 2010. This was the first time for Bashir to offer the olive branch to his brethren in the south. Was this an accident or claptrap? Is Musumar (nail) -as Darfuris would put it- eating him up? Is his Northerners-are-better-to-rule milieu turning against itself?

He too well knows. He can not stand in the way of the people of South Sudan to decide their future. He knows. Shall he repeat the same mistake, they’ll go back to the bush. He knows how determinedly ready they are. Nobody wants this to repeat. And those saying all this nonsense need to be told to their face that the south Sudanese will nary compromise their freedom and resources with anything.

African rulers and their conspirators can nary weigh anything up, so as to wish well people suffering under Khartoum bloodthirsty regime they fully support and nourish. If Darfur or Nuba Mountains goes, freedom that will bring peace to their people as opposed to current carnage, so be it. It is better to have a peaceful fragmented country than a tyrannically united one.

Those wrongly thinking that South Sudan and North Sudan will not make good neighbours should ask themselves. Why did the duo consent to end a two-decade war? New North Sudan won’t attempt any aggression thanks to having no muscles. Methinks, North Sudan will be weaker than South Sudan politically and economically. Even if it attempts to assault south, it won’t thanks for what it evidenced during the twenty-one wars with South. This is when the necessity of peace comes in.

There is a season for everything under the sun. There are times for wars and times for peace. There are times for life and times for death, times for fears and times for strengths. Time for strength for South Sudan is approaching and those worrying about this will soon be proved dead wrong.

Time for the reconstruction and resurrection of South Sudan is indeed now. It won’t pay off to stand in the way for this natural phenomenon to take place. By metamorphosis or symbiosis, South Sudan must exist and excel.

You can see this in the words of Kenyan PM Raila Odinga by what he said at the just ended AU conference in Addis Ababa. He was quoted as thus: “Given the unprecedented advances the CPA entrenched in promoting democracy, it has been distressing to learn that senior-most officials in the two organisations (UN and AU) oppose the referendum’s option of creating a sovereign nation in the South.”

Despite AU openly supporting the Khartoum regime, the PM did not mince his words. He added: “Having done so much to advance this historic process of self-determination, it is preposterous that anyone would now seek a predetermined outcome.”

When it comes to Sudan crisis, Botswana and Kenya have called a spade spade. This makes them have high moral authority when it comes to comment on the future of the same.  So it is better for those that failed South Sudan to keep their big mouths shut and evidence history being made.

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.

“Is South Sudan’s going solo prevail or peril?” ‏by Nkwazi N. Mhango

Soon Sudan will cease to be the largest country in the continent. It won’t even be the second or third biggest. Soon the language of junubi, kaffirs and slaves in Sudan will die. Soon the newly baby born will be seen.  And soon, the much ignored, exploited and looked down at will take their future in their own hands. It’s just soon and very soon.

Recent rhetoric by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, who’s also the Vice President of Sudan, that southern Sudanese have two choices come next elections-cum- referendums about the future of this biggest country in Africa. Mayardit offered his people two option for their good and peril, to vote for total freedom or to vote for being second class citizens in their own motherland. This can not be something to pooh pooh.

Mayardit was quoted as thus: “When you reach your ballot boxes the choice is yours: you want to vote for unity so that you become a second class in your own country, that is your choice,” Kiir said addressing worshippers Saturday at Juba cathedral. “If you want to vote for independence so that you are a free person in your independent state, that will be your own choice and we will respect the choice of the people.”

Mayardit aired this in South Sudan’s capital Juba recently, as his Government of South Sudan (GoSS) in it’s mission in Nairobi, spokesperson John Duku weighed in with more flavours saying categorically that they’ll boycott presidential elections. This is after the semi-Arab dominated government in Khartoum excluded countries from which Sudanese in diaspora would vote from. To make matter worse, many of these countries are neighbouring and strategical ones thanks to being neighbours hosting many southern Sudanese.

Logically, any and all sane people will vote for freedom. Mark my words. This will be followed to letters by southerners. For apart from being their leader’s vision, they are tired of thuggish and exploitative North. Though this might be seen as preemption of what is to come, the truth is, the South does not have any reason of solemnizing any marriage with the bullish and thuggish North.

However, Khartoum skeptics are wrongly thinking that if the South goes solo it will be orphaned. The fact of the matter is the South has a good partner in Kenya, even Uganda. Presently, the South is getting almost all supplies from and through Kenya. Thus, South Sudan will be more at home doing with a reliable and supportive partner than the suspicious and bully one.  Being a baby in making, the South has a very brighter future in the East African Community than in Khartoum. After all, Khartoum needs the South more than the South needs it, thanks to how it underdeveloped, degraded, neglected and exploited it for so long.

When the vulture is cornered it cries wolf. There is nothing that gears the North to support the re-unification of Sudan but the South’s resources, especially oil. But will the South allow itself to be bitten twice in the same hole?

Kenya has a big chance to spoil this though not by premeditation. For it hosted Southerners since the inception of the concept of emancipation. Nairobi was a hub and bastion for leaders of southern freedom fighters. So, warm and strong relationship with Kenya, that used to host John Garang and Riek Machar will greatly add up.

The other side of the matter revolves around stinking racism and huge ideological differences between North Africans that regard themselves as Arabs and their brethren in the South. Northerners segregate Southerners for two reasons. One, Southerners are either Christians or traditionalists and two, they’re blacker than they. But as the days go, the perception of colour, though artificially conceived (for even Northerners are Africans) and influence from Arab world, the hatred between the duo is likely to go even deeper. Northerners do not like Southerners. But given that the South is awash with oil, they’ve no way. What can they do whilst they are caught between the devil and the deep sea? So incorporating South Sudan in the East African Community should be done with all assurance and urgency that it has more to offer than Burundi and Rwanda put together.

Another thing that is likely to force Khartoum regime to its knees is the whole burden of Darfur. There are fears that Darfur may team up with the oil rich South so as to circle the North and assume power of the whole Sudan, thereby the used to be dominant Northerners would end up becoming subjects of their former subjects. This shocks Sudanese dictator Omar Bashir to the bone. As the days go by, his position is tested and weakened thanks to secession and the court order by ICC.

Though separation defeats the spirit of African unity, it is better than wasting time wrangling and scheming against one another. Hither we can borrow a leaf from Eritrea. Its secession from Ethiopia enhanced peace and tranquility in the region as it will be in this case in point.

On the one hand, some people are blaming Mayardit as being myopic and a separatist different from his predecessor, the late John Garang de Mabior Atem, who wanted to take Khartoum through ballot box. On the other hand, it must be appreciated that things have changed since the untimely demise of Garang. By then it was easy to take Khartoum by the way of referendum. But currently, it is easier to take Khartoum and re-unify Sudan by going solo, so as to team up with Darfur and reclaim it. Khartoum without oil will be nothing but a sitting duck. Though many fear that marriage of convenience with China can hamper its reclamation, this is hogwash. China , just like any other money maker, will bet on the winning horse.

This being the situation, it remains to be seen if going solo for South Sudan means gain or peril.

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.

“Darfur: Are Muslims a Betrayal?” by Nkwazi N. Mhango

“Brother, to me, there are no Muslims in this world presently except Darfuris. Since the Arab-backed illegitimate regime under Omar Bashir started butchering my people, all we mistook to be Muslims, especially Arabs, became infidels (kaffirs) for not acting.”

These are the sarcastic words by Salih Fur whom I met on plane on my way to Winnipeg from St. John’s early this year. He goes on: “I came to Canada from Egypt where I was called ‘slaves’ and other bad names, simply because I am black.”

Salih was on his way to Toronto and we coincidentally shared a seat. He sadly told me: “Can you believe? Sudan still has black people who regard themselves to be Arabs and discriminate against fellow Africans!” His cry is clear. Muslims, the world over, have betrayed their colleagues in Darfur. This betrayal, according to Salih, has rendered them kaffirs. 

I wanted to know further why this was his take. He has good Quran-based reasons. He told me that his people goofed thanks to being referred to as “Ahal Quran” or “the people of book” by Bashir. Little did they know it was a ploy he used to fool them as they refrained from pursuing modern education! They heavily regret his lie.

Salih seems to be good at this holy book of Muslims thanks to verses he gave me. When I arrived home, I touched base with another friend from Darfur, a Mr. Etahir. This guy -I met also in Canada-, hates everything Islamic and Arabic. He was born and raised a true Muslim till 2005, when he survived beatings in Cairo simply because he was black, and thus, slave, as per Arab take of black people. Therefore,  was not supposed to attend prayers. Infuriated and badly injured at heart, he kissed Islam good-bye.

[49:11] O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than they. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than they. Nor shall you mock one another, or make fun of your names. Evil indeed is the reversion to wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone who does not repent after this, these are the transgressors.

James, a Darfur Christian convert, too was born and raised Muslim. But when Arab-sponsored Janjaweed started killing his people as they uttered “Allah Akbar!” (God is great), he reverted to Christianity. There are many such incidents reminiscent to Darfur people.

“AU stance on Bashir is blow to Africa not ICC” by Nkawzi N. Mhango

Recent reports that African rulers congregating in Sirte, Libya vowed to stand by Sudanese dictator, Omar Bashir, are disgusting and appalling. If anything, this means African rulers have once again proved to be hypocrites and indifferent altogether as far as human rights are concerned.

One thing left me in stitches. Sadly, Rwandan strongman, Paul Kagame who prides himself to have stopped genocide, also concurred with this megalomania, whilst his country suffered the same genocide as Darfur suffers from! Again, looking at how genocide was committed in Rwanda, who knows? Maybe the man has smelt a rat before ICC knocks on the door. Swahili have a saying that when you see your colleague being shaved without water, rinse yours.

African rulers wrongly think that the ICC is there to foster colonialism and interfere in their affairs, thanks to taking on one of theirs. This does not help the AU. And if reality is openly faced, chances are African rulers were manipulated by the current chair of AU, Libyan Muamar Gadaffi, who openly supports Bashir to kill their colleague Muslims. It started beating AU the day it was submitted to Gadaffi to bulldoze and abuse. As of now no one gets the logic of choosing a stinking dictator to head AU.

If Bashir did not commit genocide in Darfur, why is he afraid of facing the court that would exculpate him? But given that genocide was committed under his watch and order, Bashir can do anything but not to appear before the tribunal. This reminds me of one cartoon showing him driving over thousands of human skulls but still ask: “do you have any evidence to prove that  my Janjaweeds committed genocide in Darfur?”

In its vague bagatelle, AU averred: “The AU member states shall not co-operate… relating to immunities for the arrest and surrender of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to the ICC.” This betrayal was applauded and received by Sudan as a breakthrough in getting away with the genocide Sudan committed in Darfur.

When the AU, then the OAU was found, its aim was to emancipate African countries from the yoke of colonialism and all sorts of humiliation, degradation and inhumanity. But as days go by, the AU has proved to be the opposite, thanks to Africa being ruled by dictators, thieves and killers. Ironically, black colonialists are on the helm. Therefore AU’s goals have changed from fighting colonialism to defending it simply because the rulers are homegrown colonialists. 

One would expect the AU to issue a statement with regards to what is currently going on in Gabon where the son of the former tyrant is bracing himself to replace his father. The AU would be expected to chart the way for Zimbabwe whose prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai recently came back with empty hands after western countries failed to live up to their promises of rebuilding Zimbabwe after ushering in the government of national unity. As for Darfur, many countries have betrayed it. They have been paying no attention to the plight of the people of Darfur. Now they are adding more insults to injuries by ganging up with Bashir. Where should Darfur people go?

With such nugatory stance, the AU has proved to be a gang of goons in power, as far as emancipation and unification of African are concerned. It failed to solve crises in Darfur, Somalia and Zimbabwe. Though noises are made on unification of Africa, looking at how our potentates behave! This is a nasty daydream if the AU can conspire with and connive crimes like genocide in Darfur.

It would be even better for AU to shut up and put up, rather than taking sides. This won’t help begging and dependent Africa so to speak. Of all the African countries, Kenya did the right thing by not consenting to this betrayal and shame.

In law, the perpetrator of any offence is criminally as liable as the conspirator. This means genocide in Darfur has all the blessings of the AU. Thus the AU must be held responsible for it. Donor countries that strongly support ICC, must suspend their aids to all African countries that will shamelessly support this perilous stance. I know sometimes rich countries consider their economic interests in Africa and put people on the cross.

Another thing to do is all African countries that signed the instrument establishing ICC must be reminded of their obligations! Shall they think of repudiating their commitments, suspension of aids to them must be employed to see to it that they stop their double standard and alliance in crime.

African rulers once again proved to be mad. They are alleging that ICC is interfering in their affairs. No sane mind can consent to this. The so-called their affairs the ICC is alleged to interfere with are the same that caused genocide in Rwanda! Why don’t African rulers learn and forget easily? Under Idi Amin, Uganda suffered a lot thanks to the same pretext of not interfering in the affairs of the country. The same recently happened in Zimbabwe where Robert Mugabe sent the country to purgatory as the same AU shamelessly and openly stood by him.

Though AU can wrongly assure itself that it will save and protect Bashir, history will one day persecute him. He has been given visas to travel in the continent without any hitch and fear, time will come when other countries, just like Kenya, will see the light and take on him as it happened in Liberia.

AU stop daydreaming start thinking. Bashir, just like Charles Taylor, has now where he deserves to be put: The Hague! By fully or partially supporting Bashir, indeed once again, the AU has proved how useless and awkward it is. Shame on you AU.

Nkawzi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.