Yoweri Museveni Uganda’s longtime president reconfirms his domino by wining 68 per cent of votes in Friday’s poll, allowing him to extend his 25-year hold on power. The Election Commission of Uganda declared that the main challenger Kizza Besigye took 26 per cent of the vote, but the top opposition leader alleged the election was fraudulent and rejected the results for the third time.
Political power conquered through the barrel a gun has never been relinquished by democratic process. Museveni once insurgent commander who seized power at the head of a guerrilla army in 1986, used to criticize African rulers who clung to power has now confirmed the rest of the international rebels who took power in Asia( China, Vietnam, Cambodia), Africa ( Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Angola, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Latin America(Cuba Nicaragua won back by election). Thus to this day, from Ethiopia down to Rwanda, Zimbabwe passing Angola, Armed Liberation Front leaders are still in power, aided by powerful armies and a ruthless readiness to use violence once they fought for. Democracy has reached in some African nations those received independence through colonial pacts since the fall of the Iron curtain. From Countries which conquered their liberty under the barrel of the gun, very few could be mention who saw the light of democracy: Tanzania, South Africa-Namibia; others are suffering under authoritarian leaders who have clung to power.
Musevini’s opponent was personal doctor and a long time comrade in struggle Mr. Besigye has previously threatened Egypt-style protest, but on Sunday, he declared that he was still considering other options. But on Sunday, Mr. Besigye pledged to work “to bring an end to the illegitimate government.”
But he stopped short of calling for street protests. Mr. Museveni said last week he would jail anyone who tried to spark Egypt-style unrest.
Mr. Besigye said widespread bribery, ballot-stuffing and harassment rendered the poll illegitimate.
“[We] reject the outcome of the elections,” Mr. Besigye said Sunday. “[We] reject the leadership of Mr. Yoweri Museveni.”
Foreign election observers said that there had been serious flaws with the voting process and the campaign. They said state resources were used to skew the elections in Mr. Museveni’s favor.
“The power of incumbency was exercised to such an extent as to compromise severely the level playing field between the competing candidates,” said Edward Scicluna, head of the European Union monitoring mission.
While previous election campaigns were marred by violence against opposition candidates, observers say Mr. Museveni allowed opposition candidates a freer hand to campaign this year, following the example of Melese Zenawie of Ethiopia assuring his post in advance.
The Ugandan voters went to the ballot boxes on Friday knowing there is little chance of a defeat for President Yoweri Museveni. Uganda’s opposition leaders have warned of Egypt-inspired revolts in the streets if the election is rigged, but analysts don’t expect them to make a dent in the rule of Mr. Museveni, a former general who maintains a strong grip on the army.
Many commentators believe that the people-power revolutions of North Africa will not spread to the rest of Africa. They dare to confirm that the Revolution is often a luxury of an educated middle class, and much of Africa is too rural and too poor to sustain a national uprising. But such type of analysis seems short of memory and very reductionist when it comes to sub Saharan Africa. They forgot Ethiopia of 1974 predominately peasant society brought down half a century old Dynasty from power. The same was with Uganda and Ruanda the revolt started in the cities and went to the country side and started armed struggle with farmers and other Ethnic groups.
The other factor very often cited is African technological factor, that the Internet access is still relatively low in most of Africa. In 1960’ Kenya revolt of the Mao Mao did not need any kind of technological support to execute such in human massacre, and that of Congo rebellion led by Patrice Lumba had no other communication means but mouth to the ear but threw the Belgium out. The other stereotype is that ethnic and religious divisions considered as a huge obstacle to the organization of national protests. They forget the inverse is also true that ethnicity has been a base of organization as we have seen in liberation struggle in 1960 against the one and the same enemy unjust domination of any kind internal or external. If we take for example the subjugation by a minority in power the rest of the majority groups could create a solidarity which surpasses ethic cleavage as seen in the past for liberation struggles all over Africa. Today its seems the minority in power will further t sustain power without baying out the majority which are enrolled in the army belongs to other tribes men like in Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia… but not for long.
Except Algeria the Arab world came to independence with a colonial pact followed by free officers military coup e.g., Libya, Egypt, Syrian mid 50’s. In 1960’w Africa was going to liberation struggle while these countries were under military rule after reversing the Kingship put in place by leaving colonial powers. The new Social Media Protests in the Arab world is the first revolution they are going though in their post independence period. Africa must go through its Social Media revolution to get out of the genocidal dictators reigning starting from Ethiopia down to Angola….
Yoweri Museveni Uganda’s longtime president reconfirms his domino by wining 68 per cent of votes in Friday’s poll, allowing him to extend his 25-year hold on power. The Election Commission of Uganda declared that the main challenger Kizza Besigye took 26 per cent of the vote, but the top opposition leader alleged the election was fraudulent and rejected the results for the third time.
Political power conquered through the barrel a gun has never been relinquished by democratic process. Museveni once insurgent commander who seized power at the head of a guerrilla army in 1986, used to criticize African rulers who clung to power has now confirmed the rest of the international rebels who took power in Asia( China, Vietnam, Cambodia), Africa ( Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Angola, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Latin America(Cuba Nicaragua won back by election). Thus to this day, from Ethiopia down to Rwanda, Zimbabwe passing Angola, Armed Liberation Front leaders are still in power, aided by powerful armies and a ruthless readiness to use violence once they fought for. Democracy has reached in some African nations those received independence through colonial pacts since the fall of the Iron curtain. From Countries which conquered their liberty under the barrel of the gun, very few could be mention who saw the light of democracy: Tanzania, South Africa-Namibia; others are suffering under authoritarian leaders who have clung to power.
Musevini’s opponent was personal doctor and a long time comrade in struggle Mr. Besigye has previously threatened Egypt-style protest, but on Sunday, he declared that he was still considering other options. But on Sunday, Mr. Besigye pledged to work “to bring an end to the illegitimate government.”
But he stopped short of calling for street protests. Mr. Museveni said last week he would jail anyone who tried to spark Egypt-style unrest.
Mr. Besigye said widespread bribery, ballot-stuffing and harassment rendered the poll illegitimate.
“[We] reject the outcome of the elections,” Mr. Besigye said Sunday. “[We] reject the leadership of Mr. Yoweri Museveni.”
Foreign election observers said that there had been serious flaws with the voting process and the campaign. They said state resources were used to skew the elections in Mr. Museveni’s favor.
“The power of incumbency was exercised to such an extent as to compromise severely the level playing field between the competing candidates,” said Edward Scicluna, head of the European Union monitoring mission.
While previous election campaigns were marred by violence against opposition candidates, observers say Mr. Museveni allowed opposition candidates a freer hand to campaign this year, following the example of Melese Zenawie of Ethiopia assuring his post in advance.
The Ugandan voters went to the ballot boxes on Friday knowing there is little chance of a defeat for President Yoweri Museveni. Uganda’s opposition leaders have warned of Egypt-inspired revolts in the streets if the election is rigged, but analysts don’t expect them to make a dent in the rule of Mr. Museveni, a former general who maintains a strong grip on the army.
Many commentators believe that the people-power revolutions of North Africa will not spread to the rest of Africa. They dare to confirm that the Revolution is often a luxury of an educated middle class, and much of Africa is too rural and too poor to sustain a national uprising. But such type of analysis seems short of memory and very reductionist when it comes to sub Saharan Africa. They forgot Ethiopia of 1974 predominately peasant society brought down half a century old Dynasty from power. The same was with Uganda and Ruanda the revolt started in the cities and went to the country side and started armed struggle with farmers and other Ethnic groups.
The other factor very often cited is African technological factor, that the Internet access is still relatively low in most of Africa. In 1960’ Kenya revolt of the Mao Mao did not need any kind of technological support to execute such in human massacre, and that of Congo rebellion led by Patrice Lumba had no other communication means but mouth to the ear but threw the Belgium out. The other stereotype is that ethnic and religious divisions considered as a huge obstacle to the organization of national protests. They forget the inverse is also true that ethnicity has been a base of organization as we have seen in liberation struggle in 1960 against the one and the same enemy unjust domination of any kind internal or external. If we take for example the subjugation by a minority in power the rest of the majority groups could create a solidarity which surpasses ethic cleavage as seen in the past for liberation struggles all over Africa. Today its seems the minority in power will further t sustain power without baying out the majority which are enrolled in the army belongs to other tribes men like in Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia… but not for long.
Except Algeria the Arab world came to independence with a colonial pact followed by free officers military coup e.g., Libya, Egypt, Syrian mid 50’s. In 1960’w Africa was going to liberation struggle while these countries were under military rule after reversing the Kingship put in place by leaving colonial powers. The new Social Media Protests in the Arab world is the first revolution they are going though in their post independence period. Africa must go through its Social Media revolution to get out of the genocidal dictators reigning starting from Ethiopia down to Angola….