Africa's Basket Cases

Mali has quickly become one of Africa’s numerous basket cases.  A small country, which was once calm and largely unheard of, has become a haven for Islamic terrorists, intent not only on causing mayhem and death but also determined to send the country back to the Stone Age.  This has gradually happened while much of the world has either been paying little or no attention, or has under-estimated the potential dangers of the monster that had begun to grow in that part of the world for some time. 

Perhaps the first major signal that Mali might be in trouble was the occurrence of a military coup in that country on March 21, 2012.  Prior to that coup, Mali had been widely perceived as an encouraging symbol of budding democracy in that region.  Therefore, the success of the military coup was perceived as a setback for democracy in Africa.  Following that coup, Mali increasingly descended into chaos, with Islamic militants solidifying their hold on a country whose institutions were too weak to protect its helpless citizens. 

The case of Mali raises significant questions.  First, how did it get so bad – to the point where it became very essential for France to go in to save Mali from itself? Secondly, what is the role of bigger and well-resourced African nations in helping the smaller, poorer and less stable ones to keep themselves safe and secure?  Thirdly, what does the future look like for Mali, and in fact for Africa, in light of the fact that a number of African countries are in similar circumstances as Mali?  Finally, can any country in today’s world still afford to ignore social and political developments in other countries, however distant those countries may be?

President Hollande of France is right that African countries have a major role to play in restoring Mali to a functional country.  At this point, France is receiving crucial assistance from the United States in the effort to save Mali from growing as a terrorist haven.  Western concerns are legitimate and terrorist groups must not be allowed to take over any nation and terrorize its people.   The innocent people of Mali deserve to live in peace in their own country, free from the grip of fear.  On the other hand, African leaders must work at securing their own nations and the people that they govern before it becomes impossible for them to do so.  Africa deserves to be a viable Continent as it once was; not a crumbling one to which terrorists lay claim.