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News | Africa | East Africa

Kenya PM slams Africa's 'conspiracy of silence'

LAGOS, NIGERIA Oct 10 2008 10:22
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Kenya's Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, on Thursday blasted African leaders' fear of criticising each other, saying it was stifling the continent's progress towards democracy.

"The African Union has fallen short, failing to condemn brutal regimes and sham elections, including the second round of elections in Zimbabwe. This has now become the norm.

"But we should not be surprised at the AU's failure to stand up for democracy, many of our nations' leaders have some skeletons rattling loudly in their cupboards," Odinga said.

He condemned what he called African leaders' "diabolical conspiracy of silence and complicity in refusing to condemn their neighbours", which had helped some of the continent's infamous dictators, such as Mobutu Sese Seko of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda's Idi Amin and Malawi's Kamuzu Banda.

"Time has come when we must turn our backs on that negative history," he said, adding "we must confront our demons".

Odinga, who spoke at a silver jubilee lecture for one of Nigeria's major dailies, the Guardian, said while there had been progress on the continent, there was still much to be done.

"The AU is not doing sufficient in Darfur, in Somalia and other troubled spots in Africa," Odinga said.

"The AU needs to be more engaged,"

"The Darfur problem is a sore on the conscience of African people ... Kenya's security is completely compromised by the insecurity in Somalia," he said.

CONTINUES BELOW


He also criticised the AU for failing to condemn the violence-racked second round of elections in Zimbabwe in which President Robert Mugabe stood against himself.

He said Mugabe has "dragged the name of Africa into the mud".

"Mugabe turned out to be a brutal dictator. He has turned to be grotesque and a parody of a leader," he said. -- Sapa-AFP

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At last, along with Botswana and Zambia the leader of Kenya is standing up for truth, justice and integrity within government. Ultimately the leaders of Africa will be brought to account for their decisions and actions. Where are you South Africa in this struggle for Africa to regain its honor and reputation in the world? Sinking into the mire of immorality, personal greed and compromise? Why should Africa continue to be measured with a different yardstick than civilised countries? There are way too many double standards and Africa must be judged by the same standards and criteria as all other countries and governments. Or, aren't we in Africa civilised...yet? I thought we are meant to be nations of Ubuntu and care and compassion, are we?
Can you really blame Archbishop Tutu when he says he can't vote because there is nobody to vote for, nobody he trusts?
Andrew Lawrence on October 10, 2008, 11:36 am
Raila is such a hypocrite. He is the same man who refused to reign in his supporters when they were slaughtering hundreds in the Rift Valley province of Kenya during the crisis early this year, including the 35 women and children who were burnt alive in a church. He claimed that asking his supporters to stop the mayhem was akin to "giving anesthetic to someone being raped". He is the same fellow who campaigned and incited his supporters by demonizing one tribe, the Kikuyu, in referring to them as the enemy tribe. Now he turns around and pretends to be different from Mugabe? What a monumental hypocrite! The real problem with African leadership is that most have no principles and say sweet words but do evil.
Tony Gathungu on October 10, 2008, 4:13 pm
It is truly shameful that South Africa cannot iist itself along with Botswana, Zambia and now Kenya.
Jason Whitehead on October 10, 2008, 4:38 pm
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