Africa Vision 31

Africa Vision 31

N’Djamena, January 5, 2008

Crime pays

The two dacoits who robbed me are well known figures in this part of time. They spend a lot of their time in jail and in between sentences they create havoc. One is called grand dame and the other Mohammed Walia. After they snatched my phone and money they went on a drinking spree in Kabelaye. It is the home of many Cameroonian girls and of plenty restaurants and bars. Our two bandicoots at one point got into a fight. One smashing his beer bottle and the other using his knife. The reason was that one wanted to sell the phone and the other wanted to keep it. Grand dame has been snapped up and is in jail right now. Mohammed Walia is still slithering through town awaiting arrest. He can slither and slide but for sure he can not hide.

As the left hand washes the right hand I went to see the daughter of my friend police inspector Pap of the special crime unit. She seems to be the victim of some magical incantation. As she returned from church a month ago an elderly lady touched her shoulder and she collapsed to remain in a coma for 2 weeks. Admitted in hospital the doctors went on a shotgun approach. Try anti malaria drugs, when that does not work try antibiotics when that does not work say she has tetanus and nothing can be done. All the time asking for lab exams and computer tomography and what have you not. Unfortunately nobody n the hospital knows how to use the machine so no images can out. What did come out of the pocket of my friend was bundles of money. It is sad to see medicine being used as a money-making industry but also in Chad you can find these practices. Who well go and discuss with a doctor when we are talking health.

The largest scale of criminality remains however the dictator ruling the country. It is amazing to see how much money flows into arms and the army and how little is invested in education, health care and infra structure. These criminal expenditures are justified as a struggle for life for the government, a means to peace in the country. The sad part of the story is that conflict is fought between a very limited number of tribes; Zaghawa, Goran, Tama and some Arab tribes. Numerically they are also a minority in Chad. Because of these bloodthirsty crooks the country needs to go through decline. While neighboring countries mange to climb up the ranks of the Human Development Index Chad remains a happy bottom feeder.

How does the power dynamic work in this country. It is not that complex. The French with a mere 3000 troops in Chad have the final call here. If they so wish there can be regime change or peace. Somehow the current dictatorship is a good marionette of the French. The most recent example are the idiots of Arc de Zoe. They have been convicted to hard labor for 8 to 20 years in Chadian jail by the Chadian Criminal Court . They left after only a few days to without a doubt luxurious cells in France. I wonder if they or the larger political world in France realizes what these people have done to the image and reality of work for humanitarian aid workers in Chad.

The point is at all levels you will find corruption, criminality in Chad. But it is about looking forward seeing those individuals and groups that do want to make a difference in Chad. It cannot be the case that a bunch of war minded criminals rule this nation until the end of time. Even Kenya has had some clashes lately but there is hope always the hope and reassurance that Africa is far better off in many ways than only 20 years ago. Criminality will only pay off in the short term. Long term solutions require harmony and people with vision. I have not seen that many people carrying a gun with that vision.

Namaskar

Ashis