Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The Minority’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has condemned the coup in Guinea.
Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, stated that African leaders who are willing to stay in office for more than two terms must learn from the Guinea example and other countries that have experienced coups in recent times.
In a statement, the MP said corruption, joblessness, poverty, and other ills could contribute to coups.
“The disturbing developments in Guinea which come after recent similar undesirable military interventions in Mali, Chad and Sudan must remind African leaders that the coup era of the 1960s to 80s may sadly return if the unwarranted thirst for third-termism, corruption, joblessness, poverty, manipulation of constitutions, profligacy of the ruling elite and naked impunity is not curbed.”
His statement asked African leaders to condemn their colleague African leaders who are amending their constitutions to stay in power for more years.
Read his full statement below
African leaders can start by condemning their colleagues amending their constitutions to enable them to stand for third terms, isolating offending politicians and refusing to attend their coronation ceremonies instead of the unprincipled support for Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, Uganda, Guinea, Comoros, Djibouti, Togo, Chad, Congo and Cameroon in flagrant violation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance.
If the AU and ECOWAS had not conveniently hidden behind non-interference in internal politics and exhibited courage by stopping President Conde’s third term agenda a couple of years back, this weekend’s explosion would have been averted.
The disturbing developments in Guinea, which come after recent similar undesirable military interventions in Mali, Chad, and Sudan, must remind African leaders that the coup era of the 1960s to 80s may sadly return if the unwarranted thirst for third-termism, corruption, joblessness, poverty, manipulation of constitutions, profligacy of the ruling elite and naked impunity is not curbed.
Instead of waiting late in the day to threaten sanctions on failed democracies, regional and sub-regional blocs such as AU, ECOWAS, SADC, and EAC should be boldly proactive in calling out their peers on the wrong track and demanding good governance that meets the expectations of the masses, particularly African youth.
African leaders can start by condemning their colleagues amending their constitutions to enable them to stand for third terms, isolating offending politicians and refusing to attend their coronation ceremonies instead of the unprincipled support for Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, Uganda, Guinea, Comoros, Djibouti, Togo, Chad, Congo and Cameroon in flagrant violation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance.
If the AU and ECOWAS had not conveniently hidden behind non-interference in internal politics and exhibited courage by stopping President Conde’s third term agenda a couple of years back, this weekend’s explosion would have been averted.
African regional intergovernmental organizations would do well to learn from the EU, which has been loud and clear with their criticism of two member countries: Hungary and Poland, over the rule of law concerns.
Another tragic but unsurprising episode in the contemporary African narrative.
As we pray for Guinea to return to stability and hope for the safe release of Alpha Condé, may we all be reminded and be rededicated to the unfinished African reconstruction project.