Guilty by Association: Why should they be criticized?

The move by the current sitting junta leader of the CNDD, and president of the Republic of Guinea should be criticized strongly for his acceptance of the invitation from the defunct Libyan dictator, Colonel Ghadaffi. The fact that he is formally and officially invited by the ex- African Union chairman doesn’t justify his acceptance at a vulnerable period of the country’s transition to democracy. At present, the nation needs to associate with other nations and organizations that could strategically leverage the political, social, and economic conditions of the country toward progress. While the AU, UN, EU, and US have all thrown their support toward a peaceful track of the nation current political and economic plight, the narcissistic, putsches Libyan dictator has always been on the wrong side of African crisis and Guinea in particular. So, why should a president trusted to shape the direction of the country, associate with a renowned dictator that was ousted of his chairmanship at the AU, and publicly went on to criticized the organization he was charged with and later proclaimed himself to be “the King of Kings”, and to be greater than the organization he once headed? As such, your focus should clearly be on stabilizing the country, organizing free and fair elections, facilitating the transition process, providing the necessary resources along with the authorities necessary for a smooth and effective transition. Therefore, your attention should be geared toward strategic partnerships with democratic countries with a proven track and history of safe and transparent elections, effective governance, and efficient fiscal, judicial, and economic discipline.

Associating with failed, dictatorial, and undisciplined personalities suggests a poor judgment, a lack of vision, and a lack of strategic alignment of objectives. My advice to the junta leader is that he must critically evaluate his goal and use his time wisely while he still has a mandate, align his objectives and resources to the strategic goals of the country which are free and fair elections and a secure transition to democracy. Any efforts outside of those goals are considered a waste of the country’s resources, malfeasance and lack of direction. Please, Mr. President, my appeal to you is that your time is short and very critical because of the dire circumstances of the country. We would like for you to be successful but you have to self monitor your actions and plan wisely in order to stay on course, achieve this worthy goal and be granted the legacy for establishing democracy in the history of your country and Africa at large.  Again, associating yourself with the likes of Ghaddaffi happens to be the wrong move in this game of politics; so let’s rethink our decisions moving forward, be calculated and realize what the goals and objectives are for the country. If you do run out of ideas and intend to stay on course to restore confidence and discipline; start engaging your trusted advisors, citizens, military, cabinet members, business sectors, women’s movements, youths, banking sector, mining companies, electoral commission and other stakeholders but be wary of unpopular and regressive leaders like Ghadaffi.

               As for the current nominated interim leadership body, your responsibility is to assure that the goals of the elections and secure transition to democracy, materializes.   This cannot be accomplished if you are to follow sheepishly without credible and effective consultation with the executive body. Your role clearly was to oppose any and all decisions of the executive branch that is contrary to the strategic goals of the country. How could you fail to advice the president that the Libyan dictator should have no role in Guinea at this juncture? I am disappointed by the fact that you failed on this first test of your responsibilities. What should we expect of you when the country is faced with a true problem or mess? What I hope you realize is that the right answer to the wrong question is equally as wrong as the wrong answer to the right question. The question therefore is, where should the president seek advice to learn about elections and effectively transition the current government from military to democracy? What about Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone that went through there elections and successfully elected a president from the opposition party; why not establish strategic relationships with these countries that are now stable and steadily making democratic progress? I therefore will urge you, the interim government body to be courageous in asserting rightly your authority by the power invested in you by the people to shape the direction of the country at this dire period in the history of the country. We cannot accept failure on your part and we need you to be thinkers, and courageous visionaries to carve a renowned Guinea, a Guinea with promise for all and free of corruption. The only means to such a state is through successful elections and transition to democracy by mere prioritization of objectives, and alignment of resources toward the goals of the country which are, free and fair elections and a transparent and secure transition.

Dr. Diallo, Ibrahima

Maryland, USA