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Can Kofi Save Kenya?
by jhaber | February 9, 2008 at 06:52 am | 618 views | 4 comments | 15 recommendations
by jhaber
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been in Kenya for several weeks in an attempt to broker a peace agreement
between the government and the opposition party - the source of the
violence that has now killed over 1,000 people and threatened to
destabilize one of Africa’s more stable nations. Annan is in search of
a political solution to the bloodshed now in its 6th week.
Since the contested election, Raila Odinga, the opposition leader,
has demanded new elections be held after various sources claimed the
election was rigged in favor of President Mwai Kibaki. Even if Kibaki
and Odinga agree to form a new government, it still needs to be sold to
the people of Kenya. The violence of the past 6 weeks has brought to
the surface the strife that exists between the various ethnicities within Kenya. Ending the hostilities may prove just as difficult as securing a political solution to the election crisis.
As the UN point person in Kenya, it rests with Annan to get both
sides to agree on a truce, and then to help convince Kenyan’s that the
time for violence has past. With little help from the international
community, the burden of peace rests with Annan, who if he can succeed,
will add greatly to his legacy. According to blogflict, if he is in fact successful, Annan
should be considered for a 2008 Nobel Peace Prize. While most leaders are paying little attention to Kenya, Annan is trying to save this country from falling into an abyss.
February 9, 2008 at 06:52 am by jhaber, 618 views, 4 comments
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jhaber
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 08:07 on February 9th, 2008
jhaber, thanks for this. Hope there can be a peaceful resolution to this.
at 12:01 on February 9th, 2008
Great report - well written, understandable and well researched.
You might want to follow this story up (or update this one,) with regard to Kofi Annan's role when he was in the U.N., and the fact that he wasn't (probably still isn't,) so squeaky clean.
There's lots that can be found out about Mr. Annan's dirty dealings - especially when it comes to Iraq.
Nobel Peace Prize? Gimme a break!
I have to believe that there are more worthy contenders.
~ Swan
at 12:15 on February 9th, 2008
swan - The prize award is based on the assumption that he can find a peaceful solution to this crisis. I was refering only to his pro active role in helping to solve this situation, that has now cost over 1,000 lives. While much of the international community sits on their hands while people die each day, Annan has been active in bringing both sides together. All of this, has nothing to do with his past deeds. Al Gore won his nobel prize for his work on the climate crisis, not for inventing the internet.
at 13:42 on February 9th, 2008
Hello again, :)
Just to clarify, I wasn't challenging your report, just the assumption that people think he's worth a nomination for the Prize.
Yes, it's true that he has been pro-active in this particular crisis. I acknowledge that. But personally, I don't believe that such a prestigious nomination should be made for a single event or crisis.
While of course there are exceptions, the majority of Peace Prize recipients are nominated because of either lifelong acheivement, or an incredible length of time in pursuit of a peaceful goal.
Now take other worthy Peace Prize Laureates, such as:
Mother Teresa
Theodore Roosevelt
Albert Schweitzer
Georges Henri Pire
Noel-Baker, Philip J.
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders;)
... and that's just off the top of my head.
Does Kofi Annan's life really align itself with all those above? I'm not talking about the type of career, but for what we already know of these people and their lifelong efforts towards peace for humanity.
I think if the committee responsible for choosing the next Nobel Peace Prize winner vote for Kofi Annan, then not only have they lowered their standards for prize qualification, but they will have also have prevented some other person - perhaps even an unknown - from being recognized for their work in peace - even though it may not be as high a profile, as someone with a suspect past.
Just my 3c,
~ Swan