Dignity in a Dishonourable Situation: Laurent Gbagbo or Hosni Mubarak?
by Zuzeeko Abeng
Politically, this year, 2011, has so far been a year dictators and long-serving Heads of States will never forget. Millions of oppressed people around the globe have overcome fear of torture, riot police brutality, imprisonment or death and have taken to the streets – from Tunis to Cairo, Abidjan to Kampala; from Damascus to Sana’a and Manama.
While some of these popular uprisings have received wide media coverage, others have been swept under the rug.
However, all the uprisings have something in common – the people have demanded freedom, democracy, human rights and the removal of long-standing and/or repressive regimes.
Some of the calls have culminated in the ousting of strongmen like Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast. Other infamous leaders remain standing, including the ever-defiant Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Yoweri Musevini of Uganda, Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen, just to name a few.
These are tough times for despots!
The wind of change blowing across North Africa, the Middle East and other forgotten parts of Africa have sparked debates on all levels – from the United Nations Security Council to your local bar, living rooms and kitchens all across the world.
On 2 July 2011, on a local level somewhere in a park in Helsinki, Southern Finland, a group of well-informed young African men were having a heated debate, the question was quite unusual: Laurent Gbagbo or Hosni Mubarak?
It is unconscionable and difficult to have to choose between Laurent Gbagbo or Hosni Mubarak – two “leaders” whose grip on power have caused widespread suffering and atrocities committed against innocent civilians.
In Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo lost an election, but refused to cede power to his rival, Alassane Ouattara, who was internationally recognized as winner of the November 2010 presidential elections. The 4 months post-election violence that followed claimed tens of thousands of innocent lives and displaced thousands of Ivorians. The conflict pushed the country to the brink of a civil war.
Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down despite loud calls from the United Nations, African Union, European Union and the Economic Community of West African States. The embattled Gbagbo turned a deft ear and completely ignored extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, rapes and other forms of abuse exacted against supporters of the opposition. In April 2011, Gbagbo was finally captured by forces loyal to his opponent – backed by French troops.
Hosni Mubarak of Egypt on the other hand, after 30 years in power (from 1981 to 2011) stepped down without much of a fight, after pro-democracy protesters converged in Tahrir Square in Cairo demanding the removal of the regime.
The question is simple: Would you act like Laurent Gbagbo – cling to power, ignore the damaging consequences on your people and fight to the end, or would you act like Hosni Mubarak – retire quietly to a mansion in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after losing legitimacy?
Surprisingly or not surprisingly (depending on how you see it), a majority of those who took part in this heated debate took the side of Laurent Gbagbo, saying if faced with the same circumstances, they would fight to the last bullet against western interference in the internal affairs of their country.
In other words, many regard Gbagbo as an African ”hero” who refused to give in to western pressure without a fight.
Most participants did not even consider the devastating consequences of Gbagbo’s egoism (turned ”heroism”) on his country and innocent civilians.
This debate revealed an unfortunate reality. Many young Africans, including Africans of the ”Facebook Generation” have the same mindset as the older generation of African leaders responsible for the current sorry-state of human rights, fundamental freedoms and economic development in Africa. It is hard to see where change will come from.
Zuzeeko blogs for On The Road To Success
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