"Think war is hard? Try waging peace."
Nearly 15 years ago I saw a Nightline Special on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ted Koppel interviewed a Palestinian boy, fluent in English, who was about eleven years old and it was he who made the above statement at the end of the interview. I have never forgotten him.
Last month, three prominent African personalities waged peace. Follow me downstairs to check'em out.
Story begins in Kenya.
Last December they had a Florida style presidential election. The opposition cried foul and violence, unfortunately, ensued. Nearly a thousand are dead and 250K displaced.
The world looked toward Kenyan leaders for solutions but none was forthcoming. The African Union stepped up. President Kuffuor of Ghana, AU chairman, came to Nairobi to talk and suggested a mediation committee of prominent Africans, led by former UN Secy. Gen., Kofi Annan. It took twists and turns but a solution was negotiated early last month, avoiding what would surely have resulted in possible genocide.
Today Ghana's leading newspaper reports that President Kibaki is officially thanking his Ghanaian counterpart for his help in resolving the Kenyan mess. I think this ranks up there with Nelson Mandela's holding of post apartheid South Africa together and should be cause for celebration everywhere. Some of us just get tired of all the negative news that usually comes out of this sleeping giant called Africa.
Don't understand the tip jar thingy but I'd appreciate your showing some love to the African leadership, especially the other members of the peace committee:
- Hon. Benjamin Mkapa
- Madam Gracia Machel Mandela (Mrs. Nelson)