The recent happening in the Guinea are a clear indication of the impunity that many dictators have enjoyed over the years in Africa.
The innocent killings of protestors have been termed as a violation of human rights by the whole world. BBC Online (September 29, 2009) reported that 157 people were killed after Guinea troops opened fire on protesters. The gruesome pictures across the internet show protesters lying dead in the streets.
It has also been reported that women were stripped and raped by the soldiers but authorities in that country have denied the reports, including the Junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara who said that he had no information on the allegations.
UN to Investigate
The United Nations is setting up a commission to investigate the massacre in the hopes of finding the truth of what transpired. This comes at a time when the International Criminal Court announced that it was carrying out investigations to ascertain as to whether there were grave human rights violations.
Africa has had its fair share of dictators under whom many human rights violations have been carried out. The recent killings in Guinea just serve as a reminder of what plagues the continent as far as leadership in concerned. From Liberia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, military dictatorship has led to the loss of many lives.
According to Wikipedia Online Dictionary, Captain Camara seized power back in December 23, 2008 in a military coup de tat after the death of the country’s long serving President Lansana Conte. The 45 year old military leader has made his plans public of running for the presidency later on this year.
Another Coup
Captain Camara has refused to step down even after the killings stating that the army might mount another coup if he did. According to Modern Ghana.Com (October 2, 2009), Camara says that he is a hostage to the army as they have promised to seize power if he steps down.
The IPP Media.com state on their website that there have been 80 successful coups and 180 unsuccessful ones in Africa since 1960. The problem is that no one is certain that there will be no more coups in a continent that is characterised by power hungry leaders who would do anything to ascend to power.
The intervention by the UN and the ICC should be welcomed and serve as a reminder to those who have perpetrate crimes against human rights in the hopes of furthering their causes at whatever cost. The continent as well as the world will be eagerly awaiting the reports prepared by the two bodies
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