It's less than 24 hours since the Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi was ousted by the army after the lapse of a 48 hour ultimatum to meet protesters' demands. This does not sound as good news but as an African, these ousters do not surprise me much. In Africa, a sitting president can even be ousted while he's in the showers. One can be hoodwinked into thinking that Africans have that innate desire to do things by force. Well, there could be some truth to it, do not quash that school of thinking.
When you take a closer look around Africa, most times people have to stage a protest as a way of demanding that social services be extended to them by the state. This business of sitting on a round table rarely bares fruit. I have a strong feeling that in the near future, we shall arrive at a point where the citizens will select a representative to tussle it out at arm wrestling with a government official. If they lose, that means no services will be provided, but when they win, they get what they want. To me, arriving at that point will be the peak of civilization for us.
Now back to the Pharaohs, why would a democratically elected president be ousted just one year into his term of office? For starters, Egypt's Tahrir Square will be a great source of tourist attraction in the future, should the country stabilize. This same square caused the downfall of Muhammad Hosni El Sayed Mubarak. With just one year in office, Morsi was already being accused of not fulfilling what he promised when seeking to be elected and concentrating power in Islamist hands, the Moslem brotherhood to be exact.
What's left of Egypt after the ouster? Another gamble in a new president? Will he deliver his promises? Will he not get sucked into power struggles with the army? There are certainly too many questions to ask. Even for the ordinary people in Egypt celebrating the ouster, I bet when they finally go to their bedrooms, and all noise is gone, they'll continue to think hard and ask themselves hard questions.
How are other Africans thinking about this? For some, I think they could be secretly wishing and day dreaming this happens in their countries while for some, it's just another one of those many coups. For an African man who is above 50 years, I doubt if they'll still be surprised when they hear the word "coup" and "Africa" in the same sentence.
Then comes the African Union, what's their reaction? As expected, The African Union said it's likely to suspend Egypt from all its activities. Well spoken AU, but who makes the AU if not the same folks who change constitutions just to over stay in power? Not all the members are that bad, of course there are a few good ones, trying to set the pace for the rest.
Amidst all this, we all hope for a better African continent, totally democratic and people centered.
When you take a closer look around Africa, most times people have to stage a protest as a way of demanding that social services be extended to them by the state. This business of sitting on a round table rarely bares fruit. I have a strong feeling that in the near future, we shall arrive at a point where the citizens will select a representative to tussle it out at arm wrestling with a government official. If they lose, that means no services will be provided, but when they win, they get what they want. To me, arriving at that point will be the peak of civilization for us.
Now back to the Pharaohs, why would a democratically elected president be ousted just one year into his term of office? For starters, Egypt's Tahrir Square will be a great source of tourist attraction in the future, should the country stabilize. This same square caused the downfall of Muhammad Hosni El Sayed Mubarak. With just one year in office, Morsi was already being accused of not fulfilling what he promised when seeking to be elected and concentrating power in Islamist hands, the Moslem brotherhood to be exact.
What's left of Egypt after the ouster? Another gamble in a new president? Will he deliver his promises? Will he not get sucked into power struggles with the army? There are certainly too many questions to ask. Even for the ordinary people in Egypt celebrating the ouster, I bet when they finally go to their bedrooms, and all noise is gone, they'll continue to think hard and ask themselves hard questions.
How are other Africans thinking about this? For some, I think they could be secretly wishing and day dreaming this happens in their countries while for some, it's just another one of those many coups. For an African man who is above 50 years, I doubt if they'll still be surprised when they hear the word "coup" and "Africa" in the same sentence.
Then comes the African Union, what's their reaction? As expected, The African Union said it's likely to suspend Egypt from all its activities. Well spoken AU, but who makes the AU if not the same folks who change constitutions just to over stay in power? Not all the members are that bad, of course there are a few good ones, trying to set the pace for the rest.
Amidst all this, we all hope for a better African continent, totally democratic and people centered.
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