A year highlighted by a new nation, regime change, famine and hopes for climate change solutions

by Alphonce Shiundu

 

NEW ERA:Celebrating regime change in Libya

 

The big story out of Africa in 2011 was the referendum in southern Sudan. That culminated in the birth of a new country, the Republic of South Sudan, which joins the struggling band of developing nations.

Africa's newest independent country is high on the hope of prosperity, wary about conflict, dogged with corruption, poverty and hunger, but nonetheless independent.

As the clock ticked and the weeks dragged on, focus shifted to the continent's north, to what began with the self-immolation of a frustrated street hawker in a small town in Tunisia in mid-December 2010, climaxed into the toppling of three dictators in three countries and the subsequent violent and bloody death of one of these previous "strongmen." One ended up in jail, while another one fled his country for exile in Europe.

In Tunisia, where what has been called the Arab "spring" revolution began, there's a new interim regime that's quickly laying the foundations for a democratic state. Elections were held in October to pick a constituent assembly that will draw up the country's constitution that will herald the hope of prosperity.

Egypt too is slated to follow that model of reforms and entrench democracy. But first, it needs a resolution to the trial of its ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, who is in jail for abuse of power and mega-corruption. The ongoing public trial of a once-powerful figure will serve as a warning to those poised to take the country's leadership reins and a reminder that they are duty-bound to serve the people.

Lying across the border with Egypt is Libya. The overthrow of the 42-year-regime of Muammar Gaddafi followed by his scandalous and bloody execution was big news all across the continent.

This was not only because of Gaddafi's global reputation as a despot, but also because of the way the American, the French and the British governments pushed for his ouster in a long-running NATO bombardment that spanned months.

Gaddafi had established himself as the "King of Kings" in Africa and was working with traditional elders from all over the continent, in his bid to actualize his ambitious dream of being the president of a United States of Africa. He also had considerable clout in the African Union, the political conglomerate that brings together all the African countries. But all that is water under the bridge.

Unlike Egypt and Tunisia, reforms in Libya are not a straightforward matter.

The ruins have to be rebuilt; the weapons used by the many rebels have to be accounted for to avoid a cycle of violent conflict; the sworn Gaddafi loyalists have to be convinced that life will be better, and Abdul-Raheem al-Keeb, picked by Libya's interim council to head a government, has to manage a difficult transition from civil war to democracy.

Election year

The regime changes did not start and stop with the people's revolt in the Arab North. 2011 has turned out to be a year of elections in Africa.

Mwangi S Kimenyi, a U.S.-based Kenyan researcher, noted in his paper titled "Africa's Elections 2011," published earlier in the year, that there were up to 27 African countries slated to hold presidential, legislative and local elections in 2011.

"How these elections turn out - whether they are considered fair or not, results disputed or accepted, peaceful or violent - will have a major impact on the development prospects in the continent," he noted.

The countries where polls were held this year include Nigeria, Niger, Uganda, Cameroon, Liberia, Zambia, Benin, Cape Verde, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome & Principe, and Seychelles.

Countries like Zimbabwe and Madagascar postponing their elections to next year due to logistical vagaries.

While in most countries the incumbents retained power, in Cape Verde and Zambia, the opposition had a taste of victory and there was regime change.

The change of guard in Cote d'Ivoire that ended a period of post-poll political strife is also a mark of confidence in the continent's democratic march.

 

Famine and rumors

The sad news of the continent in 2011 centered on the five countries in the Horn of Africa, where 12 million people were faced with starvation and famine. The countries involved were Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

The World Food Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization plus the United Nations, marshaled donors to respond to the humanitarian emergency and the aid is flowing in. The ongoing tragedy is likely to spill over into 2012.

Another tragedy that turned out to be a high-profile hoax was the rumor about the "death" of the global icon Nelson Mandela – the rumor became a major trend topic on twitter, and almost sent an entire continent into mourning. Fortunately the frail 93-year-old is still alive.

Homophobia

The social fabric in the continent is also changing following the declaration by the British that any country that discriminates against gays and lesbians will face aid sanctions. That saw an uproar in Uganda, Ghana and Malawi.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron had threatened to slash general budget support to countries that are not serious about reforms of laws that criminalize homosexuality.

Homosexuality is illegal in Malawi, it's about to be criminalized in Uganda with the ultimate penalty being death, while in Ghana, the authorities there simply say that homosexuality is incompatible with African culture and belief systems.

The push to tone down homophobia is needed and seen as a step toward the respect for human rights.

 

EAC challenges

The countries in the East Africa Community – the five-member econo-political bloc with Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi – also has its share of challenges experienced in 2011, with top of the list being the high food and fuel prices, and the depreciating shilling. In Kenya and Uganda there have been food protests against the skyrocketing inflation. The governments have stepped in, but then, the interventions have been grossly inadequate.

A 2-kilo packet of sugar in Kenya has risen from $1 to more than $2 in just six months, a price out of reach for the majority of Kenyans who survive on less than a dollar a day.

When the year began, Kenya was peaceful, but as 2011 progressed Kenya has made a daring assault in Somalia against the militant Islamist group called Al-Shabaab and its activities in Kenya. Al-Shabaab have promised retaliatory attacks to protest Kenya's military operation in Somalia with grenade attacks in Nairobi and the ensuing conflict is sure to make bigger news in 2012.

 

Environment

South Africa grabbed the world's attention at COP17 as the harbor for debate on the environmental degradation at a time when the global population has hit 7 billion people.

More mouths to feed and more people to employ, means that there has to be more land for food production and more industries to produce goods for the billions of people. This means that pressure on the hitherto pristine forests on the continent is likely to increase as people expand the arable land. If that happens haphazardly, desertification is guaranteed, resulting in more droughts and famine.

That's why the climate change talks in South Africa in November are crucial, not only to ensure that the continent does not bear the brunt, but that it also succeeds in its quest for food security and sufficient clean water supply all year round.

When historians look back at 2011, they will remember it as perhaps one of the most historic years of the millennium.