civil unrest in western and central africa

8/9/2019 Civil Unrest in Western and Central Africa

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Civil Unrest in Western and Central Africa

By Anne Gruner Impunity Watch, Special Features Writer

On October 30th the citizens of Burkina Faso took to the streets to protest now ex-

President Blaise Compaoré’s latest attempts to abolish presidential term limits. Molly

Ariotti, The Fall of the Hegemon in Burkina Faso, THE WASHINGTON POST (Nov. 4,

2014) http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/11/04/the-fall-

of-the-hegemon-in-burkina-faso/. The two-term limit was added to the constitution in

2000, however it was not applied retroactively; at the time, Compaoré had already

served two terms and was therefore constitutionally permitted to serve two

more. Id. The day after the protests started, Compaoré fled to the Ivory Coast with the

help of the French government. Ivory Coast Welcomes Ex-Burkinabe Leader, VOICEOF AMERICA (Nov. 4, 2014) http://www.voanews.com/content/burkina-faso-

opposition-cancels-protests-as-talks-continue/2507164.html. In Compaoré’s absence,

the Burkinabe military took control of the country and suspended its

constitution. Burkina Faso Talks Set Transition Timetable, DEUTSCHE WELLE (Nov.

6, 2014) http://www.dw.de/burkina-faso-talks-set-transition-timetable/a-18044214.

Although temporarily appointed military leader Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida has on

many occasions promised that the military does not wish to remain in power and will

hand the government over to the interim leadership, that leadership has not yet been

fully formulated. African Union Chief in Burkina Faso for Talks, AL JAZEERA (Nov. 10,

2014) http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/11/african-union-chief-burkina-

faso-talks-201411101433718802.html.

A delegation of West African Presidents representing ECOWAS (Economic Community

of West African States) has been in Burkina Faso since November 4th, helping the

military, civil society representatives, and opposition leaders draw up the framework for

the interim government. West African Leaders Press for Transition in Burkina Faso,

VOICE OF AMERICA (Nov. 5, 2014) http://www.voanews.com/content/west-african-

leaders-press-for-transition-in-burkina-faso/2508973.html. So far, it has been decided

that the interim government will hold power until the next Presidential election in

November 2015, and that members of the interim government will not be permitted to

stand in the elections. ECOWAS Presses Burkina Faso on Civil Rule, AL JAZEERA

(Nov. 6, 2014) http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/11/ecowas-presses-

burkina-faso-civilian-rule-2014115224248859854.html. Deciding on an interim


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President, however, has proven difficult. Many of the ‘opposition’ politicians are former

members of Compaoré’s Congrès pour la Démocratie et la Progrès (CDP) and there is

not much public faith that they will be any different. Burkina Faso: What Next after

Compaoré's Exit? , DEUTSCHE WELLE (Nov. 10, 2014) http://www.dw.de/burkina-

faso-what-next-after-compaores-exit/a-18051372. The African Union originally gave the

military a two week deadline to transfer power, and on November 17th, former diplomat

Michel Kafando was announced as the country’s interim President. Burkina Faso

Declares Michel Kafando Interim President , BBC NEWS (Nov. 17, 2014)

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30076907.

Since Compaoré’s flight, the houses of several former elites, including that of his

brother, Francois, have been pillaged and looted. Burkina Faso Sees its Version of

WikiLeaks after President's Fall , AFP (Nov. 10, 2014)

http://www.afp.com/en/node/3040220. Some are selling copies of documents,

including bank statements, legal papers, pay stubs, and birth certificates, on the street

for the equivalent of $1 USD. Id. Others are raiding the houses, taking everything down

to the electrical wiring. Id. One looter justified his actions, stating “’It’s what he stole

from us more than 27 years that we are now taking back.’” Id.

Further south on the continent, Equatorial Guinea’s President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema

Mbasogo, has banned any media coverage of the recent revolt in Burkina

Faso. E/Guinea Leader Nguema Orders Media Blackout of Burkina Faso Revolt , THE

NEWS NIGERIA (Nov. 9, 2014) http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2014/11/09/eguinea-

leader-nguema-orders-media-blackout-of-burkina-faso-revolt/. His government is

currently involved in a national political dialogue of reconciliation. Nguema called for

the dialogue back in August and later announced a presidential decree that granted

amnesty to political opponents. Equatorial Guinea Pardons Political Opponents in

Exile, WORLD BULLETIN NEWS (Oct. 23, 2014)

http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/146826/equatorial-guinea-pardons-political-opponents-in-exile.

The amnesty law, however, is extremely vague. It neither identifies the pardoned

individual nor defines “political crimes.” Equatorial Guinea Must Disclose Full Details

of Amnesty for Political Prisoners, AMNESTY INT'L (Oct. 24, 2014)


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http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/equatorial-guinea-must-disclose-full-details-

amnesty-political-prisoners-2014-10-24. Additionally, the only opposition party present

at the dialogue, the Convergence for Social Democracy Party (CPDS), walked out during

the second day because Nguema had not released political prisoners still held within

Equatorial Guinea. Joe Bavier, Equatorial Guinea Opposition Walks out of talks with

Government, REUTERS (Nov. 9, 2014)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/09/us-equatorial-politics-

idUSKCN0IT0P520141109. The government maintains, however, that the amnesty was

directed towards opposition leaders abroad, and that those being held within the

country are being held on criminal – not political – charges. Id .

The dialogue appears to be aimed at masking Nguema’s most recent bout of

international notoriety. In early October, the U.S. reached a $30 million USD settlement

deal with his son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, to resolve allegations of corruption

and money laundering. Evan Perez, Equatorial Guinea Official Reaches $30 Million

Corruption Settlement with U.S., CNN (Oct. 10, 2014)

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/10/world/equatorial-guinea-corruption-

settlement/. Obiang is being forced to sell his “Malibu mansion, a rare Ferrari, and

several life-sized Michael Jackson statues” in order to cover the settlement deal. Kevin

Donegan, No Impunity: The Law Steps in to Investigate, TRANSPARENCY INT'L (Oct.

22, 2014) http://blog.transparency.org/2014/10/22/no-impunity-the-law-steps-in-to-

investigate/. Earlier this year, French authorities seized a 101-room property and elevenluxury cars in Paris belonging to Obiang pursuant to a similar investigation. Andrew

Friedman, Freeing Political Prisoners Breeds Hope in Equatorial Guinea, AFK

INSIDER (Nov. 12, 2014) http://afkinsider.com/76588/freeing-political-prisoners-

breeds-hope-equatorial-guinea/. His yearly government salary is less than $100,000

USD. Perez, supra.

Corruption is rampant in Equatorial Guinea. Friedman, supra. The country has a GDP

of over $15.5 billion USD, however 77% of its population lives in poverty. Id . Although

the reconciliation dialogue was declared for the purpose of bringing the government and

the population closer together, there is little hope that it will actually achieve that

end. Id .

civil unrest in western and central africa

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