We at the Womb tend to be quite outspoken when it comes to the plight of African nations, though not in the usual manner. We believe African nations should practice self-reliance, self-improvement and proper self-governance instead of relying on the UN, sympathetic countries, foreign aid & troops (except in cases of, say, natural disasters). Africa is the cradle of life and it is astonishing that millennia of human habitation have little to show on the whole continent barring a few pyramids. Communal strife, genocide, corrupt governance, famine and the like plagues much of Africa even unto this day and to be frank, it seems as though many African nations are not deserving of sovereignty. Case in point, Liberia, where a Truth & Reconciliation Council (TRC) recently begun hearing cases in an attempt to heal wounds from the brutal civil war (which lasted from 1979 to 1993).
Milton Blahyi is a former rebel commander who fought against the militias of warlord Charles Taylor (one-time President of Liberia and currently on trial for war crimes at one of those useless international criminal courts). Blahyi, who had been ordained as a traditional priest for his tribe (read witch doctor) in 1982, fought in support of incumbent president, Samuel Doe and was known as General Butt Naked for his tendency to ride into battle nude in order to intimidate the enemy. In a recent conversation with the BBC, he admitted that as part of the pre-war preparations, he made human sacrifices (young children), plucked out their hearts, cut them into pieces and ate them (yes, you read correctly). This after admitting to the TRC that his troops had killed 20,000 people when active.
Today, Blahyi is an evangelical preacher who spreads the word of God (the Christian one, incidentally, oh how will the Church will spin that?), but more importantly, a free man. Now someone please explain how anyone who admits to eating children’s hearts can freely walk about and further, preach of salvation through God. Blahyi states that he feels a sense of relief when telling others of his gruesome practices as a rebel leader. We expect that feeling is normal given that such confessions enhance your stature as an absolute lunatic and he is unlikely to ever face justice. Blahyi now preaches against murder and human sacrifices. Again, to be expected when you can wear the “Been-there, ate-that” t-shirt.
Other warlords have responded to Blahyi’s requests to come forth and tell the truth with disdain. Prince Johnson, another warlord, said he would not appear before the TRC unless compelled to do so. He’s a senator in Liberia today so let’s assume he’s powerful enough to not be compelled. Johnson is the warlord who personally led the troops that deposed and tortured former President Doe in 1990. Video of the torture is apparently still available in Liberia.
What kind of society allows such things to pass? We refuse to believe that poor African nations are being held hostage by a handful of warlords and militias. There is only so much a populace will endure before breaking, the inevitable precursor to revolution. It has happened in every other major country and yet seems strangely absent from the dark continent.
We’re not trying to say all of Africa is represented by people like Blahyi and Johnson; We couldn’t and wouldn’t generalize to that extent. We’re just saying if your country lets child-consuming former rebels roam scot-free, you’re probably destined to remain nothing more than those poor Africans. Self-respect, self-worth, patriotism, hard work, morals, accountability, justice, community. Then civilization.
You can see the BBC article on the topic HERE.
Popularity: 23% [?]
I must say I am a little shocked at your cut and dry approach to Africa. Unfortunately the core of any arguments that I may propose in contention have been degraded to a level of ill repute by hot headed first worldist save the planet by offering no real alternative types.
As an African it annoys me that the international keyhole spying into the continent seems to be rigged to only dislay the failures of the continent. None of the successes. It also bothers me that when speaking of fantastical crimes against humanity there is an unfair focus on Africa – very little on Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. This is by no means an attempt at a “they do it too” argument. Just saying when it comes to working towards a better world, better to take a big picture look at all the problems, not just some of them.
I’m sorry to admit that the overall tone of this article has some interesting leave context by the wayside similarities to sounds the first worldists mentioned above may make after failed attempts at attracting attetion to themselves.