Voices without Votes » D.R. of Congo

Congolese bloggers on the American elections

Jennifer Brea — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:29:21 +0000

Congolese bloggers Musengeshi Katata and Shaka Bantou have been closely following the American Democratic and Republican conventions at Forum Realisance. Both are staunch supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and sharp critics of the Republican Party. Like many around the world, bloggers in Congo and across Africa have been following this American election with the belief that its outcome is incredibly important not only for America, but the rest of the world.

Bantou writes that the American election is “a good chance to learn certain profound truths.” He advises everyone, especially Africans, to follow the elections so as to learn how to “decode the intentions and the strategic labyrinths the West uses to arrive at its ends” [Fr].

Katata explains why he thinks the world is watching the American elections:

…parce les 8 ans de George W. Bush l´ont profondément choqué, et parce que, comme un miracle sorti des légendes des mille et une nuit, un brillant et talentueux Obama venait y défendre la commune renomée du fameux rêve americain.

…because the eight years of George W. Bush have been profoundly shocking, and because, like a miracle out of the legends of one thousand and one nights, a brilliant and talented Obama comes to defend the famous American dream.

Katata writes that America, “with her economic power or the influence she likes to impose or transmit around the world to establish her interests,” has created an image of herself around the world of actually being that dream. It is a dream that has always been plagued by its own history:

Chaque fois qu´on parlait du rêve américain…on ne manquait, hélas pas…de s´interroger sur le contenu réel de ce fameux rêve américain né de la dépossession territoriale des indiens d´Amerique et leurs massacre ou consignation dans des reservoirs reculés. Oui, un rêve qui se servit de l´esclavage des africains pour accumuler, orienter son bien-être social et propager les inégalités ainsi établies des siècles durant comme principe social dominant. Et même si ces inegalités, avec le temps, se résolvent lentement sous la pression et l´évolution des droits et des libertes sociales aujourd´hui, les lésions causées par l´injustice, le racisme ou la discrimination sociales, elles, perdureront encores leurs effets négatifs loin dans les génerations à venir. Ainsi, ce rêve américain, au fait, pourrait-on se demander à juste titre, est-il sincère ou n´est-il rien d´autre qu´une demi vérité qu´on vendait comme l´idéal le plus juste et le plus fier de l´existence humaine pour que ceratins en profitent, sous cette ombre trompeuse, pour exercer toutes leurs bassesses les plus viles comme jadis ?

Each time we speak of the American Dream…we should not fail to question the actual content of this famous American dream, born of the disposession of Native American territory, the massacre of Native American peoples, or their relegation to remote reserves. Yes, a dream that used the slavery of Africans in order to accumulate, to direct its social well-being and to propagate the inequalities established over centuries as the dominant social principle. And even if today these inequalities, over time, are slowly being resolved under pressure and with the evolution of rights and social liberties, the negative effect of these lesions caused by this injustice, by racism, or by social discrimination, will be felt by generations to come. So can't we quite rightly ask whether the American Dream is in fact genuine, or nothing more than a half-truth that is sold, as the most proud and right idea in human existence so that the few who benefit from it can, under this deceptive shadow, exercise do their worst as they always have?

Blogging the Republican convention: Stuck in the past

Of the Republican convention, which wrapped up on Thursday, Katata writes:

Depuis que la Convention Républicaine a ouvert ses portes ce lundi 1er septembre 2008, on apprend, une nouvelle fois, ce qui différencie fondamentalement les républicains des democrates. Tous aiment leur pays, tous sont touchés par la crise économique qui le secoue dans ses structures autant sociales que financières; mais sur les moyens de mieux gérer ou répondre aux exigences que leur imposent à tous l´avenir, les méthodes divergent diamétralement dans leur systématisme. L´Amérique…Un pays à part ou un pays qui a oublié, depuis qu´il est devenu le pays le plus puissant du monde, que les autres pays, les autres peuples avaient, eux aussi, droit à la liberté et au bien-être matériel auxquels tout americain se réclamait si fièrement sans pour autant y être socialement ou intégralement admis comme on le sait…?

Since the Republican Convention opened its doors…we have learned, yet again, the fundamental difference between Republicans and Democrats. They both love their country [and] are affected by the economic crisis that is rattling social and financial structures; but in terms of the way to better manage or respond to the challenges they all face in the future, their methods are diametrically opposed. America…a country isolated or a country that has forgotten, since it became the most powerful in the world, that other countries, other peoples also have a right to the liberty and the material well-being all Americans invoke so proudly, without necessarily being socially or fully accepted, as we all know…?

Katata was not impressed by Sarah Palin's debut:

Son discours à la convention, par ailleurs, n a rien été d´autre qu´un vide cancan de femme inexperimentée jouant à l´agression bon marché. Ah, quelle difference de style et de contenu intellectuel et politique avec Hillary Clinton ! Le jour et la nuit la plus noire qui soit. Si c´est tout ce qu´elle sait faire…sa nomination n´est pas un compliment pour McCain ou avait-il à ce point besoin d´une chienne de garde plus hurlante que mordante ?

Her speech at the convention was nothing else than the empty quacking of an inexperienced woman playing with cheap aggression. Ah, next to Hillary Clinton, what a difference in style and intellectual and political content! The difference was night and day. If that's the only thing she knows how to do…her nomination does not pay compliment to McCain; was he really that much in need of a guard dog, whose bark is worse than her bite?

Nor was Bantou:

Si sa propre fille ne fait cas de ses conseils éducatifs, comment diable veut-elle s´imposer chez les autres avec lesquels elle n´a aucun lien étroit et familial ? Avec la violence et l´intrigue, peut-être ? Crédibilité, hein!

If her own daughter can't follow her advice, how in the world does she hope to impose it on those with whom she has no direct family relation? With violence and intrigue perhaps? Where's her credibility?

Blogging the Democratic Convention: The race for the future in a changing world

Katata and Bantoul also wrote last week about the Democratic convention. Katata was impressed by the Clintons and the Obamas, and especially by Mark Warner, former governor of Virginia who is now running for the U.S. Senate:

Parce que mieux que tous les orateurs précédents, il alla en détail et avec précision au cœur du problème américain contemporain en qualifiant avec justesse que ces élections n´étaient pas, contrairement à ce que les gens le prenaient par trop spontanément, un choix entre démocrates ou républicains, entre ceux du Sud ou du Nord, entre les riches et les pauvres ; mais bien entre le passé et l´avenir ou encore entre un président ancré dans le passé et celui qui aurait une vision ambitieuse et innovatrice pour promouvoir un meilleur avenir aux américains. Il parla de l´indépendance de l´énergie que l´Amérique d´Obama voulait réaliser, et critiqua une gestion bushiste illuminée qui avait dépensé les ressources humaines et financières dans des guerres grotesques et ruineuses, ainsi que dans des structures économiques et industrielles conservatives et dépassées, sinon incapables à préserver l´avenir dans le monde changeant et exigeant de demain. Apparemment les républicains ne semblaient pas saisir que face à la Chine accourant à grands pas à l´excellence mondiale, la course pour l´avenir était ouverte. Et celle-ci ne pouvait se gagner que par l´innovation, la créativité industrielle assidue et l´utilisation optimale des facteurs de production.

Better than any of the other speakers, [Mark Warner] got at the heart of the contemporary American problem in detail and with precision, rightly describing the elections not as a choice between democrat or republican, between South or North, between the rich and the poor; but between the past and the future, between a president stuck in the past and someone with an ambitious and innovative vision to work for a better future for Americans. He spoke of the energy and the independance that an Obama America hopes to realize, and criticized the Bush administration which has wasted vast human and financial resources on ridiculous and expensive wars, as well as in its conservative and outmoded economic and industrial structures, otherwise incapable of securing a future in the changing and world of tomorrow. Apparently, the Republicans seem not to have gotten that with the grand strides towards global success China is making, the race for the future has [already] begun. And this can only be achieved through innovation, industrial creativity and optimal usage of their productive capacities.

Et je dois avouer qu´avec Mark Warner j´ai été autant séduit que réconcilié avec les démocrates. Parce que cela m´a laissé entendre que le discours si souvent incompris d´Obama a été bien perçu par ceux qui s´étaient donnés la peine d´aller au fond du problème qui sous des aspects divers et des variantes contextuelles ou géopolitiques, touchait le monde entier, mêmes les africains ou les islamistes extrémistes qui trompaient leurs monde avec un absolutisme religieux qui, en lieu et place de s´industrialiser, de créer le bien être pour les leurs, croyaient primitivement qu´il ne s´agissait, dans l´existence, que de croire aveuglement à une religion quelconque !

And I must say that with Mark Warner, I was as seduced as I was reconciled with the democrats. Because [his speech] helped me understand that Obama's discourse, so often misunderstood, has been understood by those who have gone to the trouble of going to the heart of the matter which, with its many aspects and varied contexts or geopolitics, affects the whole world, even Africans or Islamic extremists who, with their religious absolutism, instead of industrializing, instead of increasing the well-being of their own, that in this existence all one need do is believe in whatever religion!

Croyait-on que le progrès se ferait à coup de sourates aussi passionnées soit-elles ; ou s´achèterait chez ceux qui se seraient donnés la peine d´inventer et de produire ? Mais alors il faudrait avoir les moyens financiers d´acheter…indéfiniment. Est-ce possible sans produire soi-même et développer l´intelligence et la créativité des siens ? Faut pas rêver…Les démocrates, en tout cas, ne se font aucune illusion : il s´agit de protéger et de garantir l´avenir de chacun de leurs enfants dans un monde où la concurrence, prochainement, deviendra accrue et sélective au plus haut niveau.

Do they believe, passionate as they are, that progress will come from some chapter of the Koran; or will they keep buying from those who have gone to the trouble to invent and produce? But that would mean having the financial means to buy…indefinitely. Is that possible without themselves producing and developing their own intelligence and creativity? They're dreaming…the democrats, at any rate, are under no illusion: it's about protecting and safeguarding the future of their children in a world where, in the very near future, competition will only increase.

Bantou also has high praise for Obama but wonders if the American electorate will make the right choice this time:

En fin de compte, et après 8 ans de visible gestion cabalistique de la part de George W. Bush, le peuple américain sera-t-il capable, est-il capable de juger adéquatement et objectivement ? Rappelons-nous, c´est ce même peuple qui, contre l´avis certain candidat Kerry et même de beaucoup d´analystes politiques avisés, vota, contre tout bon sens, George Bush à la tête de ses institutions ! Comment réagira-t-il le 4 novembre prochain ; qui le sait ? Peut-être que les douleurs, les blessures ou l´amère pilule républicaine que subissait la société américaine actuellement n´étaient pas encore assez cruelles… ? Ou ce peuple dira-t-il, comme Obama : 8 ans, ça suffit, nous en avons assez!

At the end of the day, and after 8 years of the patently of George W. Bush, will the American people be capable, are they capable of making an adequate and objective assessment? Remember that these are the same people who, against the advice of and many informed political analysts, voted, against all good sense, George Bush to the head of its institutions! How will they act on next November 4th; who knows? Maybe the pain, the wounds or the bitter Republican pill American society is being subjected to have not been cruel enough…? Or will this people, as Obama, say: 8 years, that's enough, we have had enough!

The stakes are high:

Mais nous souhaiterions aussi, et cela est un vœu pieux de haute espérance éthique et morale humaines, que ce pays ne ferme pas toujours les yeux sur les droits et les libertés des autres peuples. Même dans l´intérêt d´un quelconque rêve américain d´hégémonie et de domination sur le monde. Ces temps-là sont révolus, et devant la Chine, il est temps de défendre des valeurs qui soient valables pour tous. Sinon la Chine pourrait invoquer ces écarts et ces interprétations restrictives pour faire la même chose…

But we also hope, and this is a a solemn vow of the highest ethical and moral aspiration, that this country will no longer close its eyes to the rights and liberties of other people. Even in the interest of a mundane American Dream of hegemony and world domination. Those days are over, and in the face of China, it is time to defend the values that are good for everyone. Otherwise China can invoke these gaps [between rhetoric and reality], these limited interpretations, to do the same thing…

Campaigning Abroad: A welcome change or an exercise in futility?

Lova Rakotomalala — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:50:40 +0000

With both candidates spending some time abroad to explain their foreign affairs strategies (Obama currently in Afghanistan and soon in Europe, McCain in Mexico and Colombia) the rest of the world wonders whether they should celebrate this new emphasis on international relations or expect a potential backlash for either candidates.

Nicole Bacharan, on “Le blog USA 2008″ believes Obama will certainly advocate for a greater commitment from NATO in Afghanistan.

She adds about Obama's Europe visit (fr):

“On peut s’attendre à ce que les Européens (Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown…) reçoivent Obama avec chaleur. Mais aussi prudence. Il est normal de se rencontrer et d’apprendre à se connaître. Il serait évidemment mal venu d’avoir l’air de prendre parti dans la présidentielle américaine. En Allemagne, certains critiquent déjà le projet d’Obama (mais sera-t-il maintenu ?) de prononcer un discours devant la porte de Brandebourg”

One may expect that the Europeans (Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown…) will receive Obama warmly, with a bit of caution though. It is normal to meet in person and learn to know each other better. However, it would be bad protocol to look like one is taking side in the presidential elections. In Germany, some are already criticizing the Obama project (if actually carried through) to have a speech in front of the Brandenbourg Gate.

Anne Applebaum 's column on the reason for candidates to campaign abroad was entirely translated in French on the influential blog rue89.com. Applebaum argues that foreign observers, should all rejoice from this new turn of events in American politics:

“It matters how America is perceived abroad, and not just because it's nice to be popular. When America and American values are admired in other countries, American politicians have more influence on foreign affairs”.

The reactions to the article from French readers in the comment section are quite diverse. Pierre JC Allard from the blog Nouvelle Société agrees that image projected to the rest of the world matters to Americans (fr):

Les Américains souffrent du mépris et souvent de la haine globale que leur a value la présidence Bush Ils se meurent de voir Obama applaudi par des Européens

Americans suffer from the spite and global hate that stemmed from the Bush administration, they would love to see Obama welcomed by the Europeans.

Ira, another commenter on the article, begs to differ (fr):

cet article tente de nous faire croire que les Etats-unis profonds se préoccupent de ce que pense le reste du monde…vaste rigolade ! (je reste décent) Un autre futur président potentiel - McCain -, qui représente une partie de ce “bon peuple”, apporte un premier démenti : le lundi 14 juillet à Phoenix en Arizona, il affirme s'inquiéter des rapports tendus entre la Russie et la Tchécoslovaquie… pays qui n'existe plus depuis le 31 décembre 1992.

This article is trying to convince us that America's heartlands care about what the rest of the world thinks…what a joke ! ( and I am being polite). Another future potential president-McCain- who represents parts of those “good people” brings evidence to the contrary: on Monday, July 14th in Phoenix, Arizona, he states that he is worried about the tense relationship between Russia and Czechoslovakia…a country that does not exist anymore since Dec, 31st 1992

Finally, Yannick Mireur concludes in his blog “politique americaine” (fr):

“L'Amérique ne changera pas… La patriotisme à la fois naïvement démonstrateur, presque enfantin (les drapeaux aux fenêtres, les pin's obligatoires à la boutonnière, etc.), et militarisé, est devenu un trait culturel dont le prochain président aura du mal à se défaire, y compris Obama”

America will not change… the patriotism that is naively demonstrative, almost infantile ( flags on windows, flag pins..) and militarized, has become a cultural trait that the next president will have a hard time getting away from, Obama included.

Africans Jubilant About Obama’s Ascendancy With Hope of a Better Future

Aggregated from: AfricanLoft — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:05:12 +0000

The possibility that Senator Barack Obama, the son of an African from Kenya, could become the first black president of the United States has got Africans jubilating across the continent. While many are reserving their biggest celebration for after the November U.S. election, for now Africans across the continent are excited with hope of a brighter future for the continent with an Obama presidency.

“About 60 percent of Cameroonians I spoke to is in favor of having Barack Obama, an African American, to become the first black president. They hope that if he becomes the first black president of the world’s most powerful nation, the blacks would be proud of their color. The other 40 percent that I talked to they think that it is a Republican (party) ploy to get Hillary (Clinton) out of the way because Hillary could have been a tough competitor to (Senator) McCain because they say the Americans have what they call the redneck. They don’t think that the rednecks would want to vote a black man come November,” said Nkemayang Paul Foanyi, a newspaper publisher in Limbe, Cameroon.

From Kampala, reporter Grace Matsiko of the Daily Monitor, one of Uganda’s independent daily newspapers, said Ugandans received the historic news of Obama’s victory with a lot of enthusiasm to the point that some have already begun cashing in on the Obama euphoria.

“People feel that he is part of the changes in the global politics. But then they are probably cautious will he make it when the U.S. holds their election. Some people feel he’s too much of a populist. But this does not downplay their support for him. And surprisingly this afternoon I saw some people selling the Barack Obama posters. I think some people are trying to cash in on that excitement by printing Obama posters and selling them at something like half a dollar,” Matsiko said.

Joi Idam, assistant secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Abuja Chapter said Nigerians received the news of Obama’s victory with joy and celebrated it as if Obama was the son of Nigeria.

“You will recall that Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world. So we see it as a personal victory, and we believe that with a black man at the helm of the U.S. government, that would mean more aid, and that would affect Africa positively, and we are praying for him to win the general election,” Idam said.

Panu Panu from the Democratic Republic of Congo said Congolese are happy about Obama’s ascendancy but they were not sure how much difference Obama’s presidency would make in terms of U.S.- Africa relations.

“We believe here that it’s a good thing that an African American has a chance to be the next president of the U.S.A. It’s good for diversity in terms of the American society, but we are not sure that it’s going to change anything regarding American policy toward Africa because to change such a policy really goes beyond a powerful single person,” Panu Panu said.

By James Butty/VOA.

France: Obama is NOT what we call “left wing”

Lova Rakotomalala — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:15:15 +0000

The Franco-American relations have always been mired with controversy. Although their histories are deeply entrenched into one another (American Revolution, WWII…), there is no denying that the past relationship is full of tense moments (disagreement on NATO under de Gaulle and the war on Iraq…) and stereotyping on either sides is sometimes out of control.

The US presidential election is seen by many in France as a chance to reassess this relationship and find a common ground. One Frenchman in China explains on link TV why this election matters so much to the rest of the world.

The Facebook group called Les socialistes avec Obama concurs. The group lists the reasons why it is important for the French left wing to support Obama:

• Redonner une vision aux Etat-Unis en étant un exemple en rétablissant le multilatéralisme car l'union fait la force.
• Être plus interventionniste (Congo, Darfour et Liberia)
• Améliorer la sécurité sanitaire mondiale
• Plan pour arrêter la guerre en Irak.
• Un système de sécurité social plus performant et protecteur
• Combattre la pauvreté en mettant en place des formations pour ceux qui sont sans emploi, assurer la liberté de syndicalisation, aide aux plus pauvres pour trouver des crédits d'investissement dans une entreprise, création d'incubateur d'entreprises”

-Give a new vision of the US by giving an example of multilateralism. There is strength in unity.
-More intervention in Congo, Darfur and Liberia.
-Improve Global Health care.
-A withdrawal plan for the Iraq war.
-A social security system that is more effective.
-Fighting poverty by training the unemployed, the freedom to unionize, aid the poorest obtaining investing credits in their companies and create business incubators.

However, Not everyone in the group thinks that Obama reflects the value of the French left-wing:

Jean-Arnaud Coste says:

” Vous êtes vraiment d'une naïveté déconcertante pour croire qu'Obama est de gauche, c'est dingue…
Il est certes peut être moins à droite que Mc Cain mais il est bien plus à droite que Sarkozy par exemple . Donc voir des socialistes soutenir Obama c'est vraiment absurde…Comme si la gauche ça existait aux Etats-Unis.”

Your naivety is really disconcerting, to think that Obama is left-wing, it’s crazy. He is certainly less to the right the McCain but he is more to the right of Sarkozy for example. So to see socialists support Obama is truly absurd…As if there was a true “left” in the US.

To which Michel Attia replied:

“il y a une très grande différence entre l'unilatéralisme de Bush et le multilatéralisme des Démocrates »

There is a major difference between the unilateralism of Bush and the multilateralism of the Democrats.

Arthur Mitteau adds:

“Que Barack répare l'édifice des relations entre les EU et le monde, ce sera déjà gigantesque »

If Barack can repair the front door of the relation between the US and the world, it would already be a gigantic achievement.

Can Barack Obama turn the tide?

Aggregated from: Congo Voices — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:59:19 +0000

I recently came across a letter that US Presidential candidate Barack Obama wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice highlighting the rapes of Congolese women and children.

Obviously, Obama is concerned about the increased violence against women and children in the eastern part of Congo. It also seems like he's accusing the Bush administration for not addressing the war and giving concrete solutions.

As a Senator, Obama did show some initiative in that matter. In 2005, he co-sponsored S2125 The Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act, which was passed by Congress. Though it is clearly written out how the US will assist Congolese leaders with bringing about change in the country, the law remains just a piece of paper.

Despite his interest in ending the war, Obama has not been as actively involved in Congo as he was in Sudan. In addition to co-sponsoring the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, Obama has spoken out incessantly about the war torn Sudanese region. He visited Sudanese refugees and spoke at the Save Darfur Rally in April 2006. Obama has yet to go to Congo.

Based on this, I believe Obama won’t be advocating aggressively for the Congolese. On the other hand, he probably won't relegate Congo to the background like Bush did.

My hope is that Obama will care enough about the situation in Congo to take much needed action. As a peace loving man, he is probably the only person who can knock some sense into those stubborn leaders in Africa.