This says all about why we have decided to set our own rules and methods for the transition to a fair democratic process. We might not be following the prescribed rules, but can you really blame us for doing so when we have followed them for the last 50 years with this little result? What we are trying to do is re-write our way to fairness, and the achievements garnered at the end of this two-week process proves that we are winning the challenge against all the odds (again)!!! Order and security enforced. Constitutional order polished and restored. Framework of the transition drafted. A really unbiased civilian body for the transition to be elected on consensus and established from tomorrow. Fair elections in a year (respecting the formal elections deadline). Like a toddler, we are learning to walk, and we know nothing is perfect as the way ahead is still long. May we write our way for others to follow... The larger issue in Burkina Faso, as elsewhere in Africa, is that formally democratic rules can easily be applied to perpetuate the authoritarian domination of a ruling clique. People might vote and parliament might convene, follow procedure and pass laws, but it is a largely hidden network of patronage alliances and security agencies that actually rules. This system excludes large segments of society from the benefits of genuine representation and produces vast inequalities mediated though access to state resources and offices. It breeds grievances, alienation and anger, which the burning down of Burkina Faso’s Parliament by demonstrators illustrates only too well.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 12:34:33 +0000
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