Congo: So You Too Can Cry Mr. President?

A Guest commentary by Cédric Kalonji (Translated from French by Scribbles from the Den)

It is hard to believe. To see the very strong and powerful President of the Republic of Congo crying, supported by two women, is proof that he is a human being after all, made of flesh and blood.
 

Mr. Sassou Nguesso is crying for his daughter, Edith Lucie Bongo Ondimba, wife of Gabonese president Omar Bongo Ondimba, who died on Saturday, March 14, 2009 in Rabat, Morocco.

For some strange reason, this photo reminds me of the bloody war of 1997 in Congo/Brazzaville. I remember the gun shots, the shells going across the [Congo] river and killing people in certain parts of Kinshasa.

Back then, General Sassou Nguesso, with the help of Chadian and Angolan forces, had launched a war against Pascal Lissouba who had beaten him in elections five years earlier.

I remember all those children, stranded and alone in the strange streets of Kinshasa, their parents killed in a war whose relevance was known only to the warring parties.

My condolences, Mr. President, at the death of your daughter. I understand your pain and I hope that you at least appreciate what those parents who lost their children in the war that brought you back to power felt.

I hope that you will also realize that money, power, villas and luxury cars in France could not save your daughter. The fact that she was admitted into a high class hospital in Morocco did not change anything; her time had come and she departed just like all those average Congolese who do not have access to the most basic medical services and who die in silence.

(c) Rue89

Edith Bongo (green dress) and Omar Bongo in happier times

Comments

[Bobe]

It's hard to understand the mindset of people like Nguesso. After perpetuating a self-serving war that killed thousands of other people's children he cannot contain the grief of losing a love one. Those guys supporting him could have let him roll on the ground. That would be an experience he can share with many of those who were victims of his Machiavellian machinations that caused a lot of bloodshed in his home land. It sad his young daughter passed away so soon, but his grief brings joy to probably a lot of his victims. Feel like someone needs to ask him, “Now Mr. President, you know how it feels, don’t you?” I have no remorse for the man.
Bobe

[ngonyama]

Thanks for this interesting pic. We experienced a similar scenario in Cameroon when late Jean Fochive who is siad to have operated a state sanctioned killing machine for years lost his beloved wife Alice Njimoungoum on the Douala-Yaounde highway. Fochive sat on the tarmac and cried like a baby for at least an hour! it is interesting to see Sassou replicate that. Indeed he will now feel how it is to lose a loved one.I am amazed at the way he cannot contain himself and it is the women being his support without which he'll just collapse.At least other African elders like Kenneth Kaunda and late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere used to cry for the right reasons! Still, my condolences to him.

Ngonyama

[Remember Bruno Ossebi]

It was only a month ago that President Nguesso's thugs assassinated Congolese journalist Bruno Ossebi and his entire family. Today it is his turn to feel the pain
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Republic of Congo: Death of journalist Mr Bruno Ossebi

Posted on 2009/02/27 Front Line is deeply concerned at the death of Mr Bruno Ossebi, a journalist of Congolese and French nationality writing for the online newspaper “Mwinda”, and the lack of results in the investigation that ensued. Bruno Ossebi died from the injuries sustained following a fire in his home in Brazzaville.

Further Information
On 21 January 2009, late at night, a fire developed at Bruno Ossebi's home in Brazzaville, killing his girlfriend and her 8- and 10-year old children. He was then admitted to a military hospital with second degree burns on 30% of his body, but died unexpectedly in the early morning of 1 February, despite earlier improvements in his medical condition. It is reported that Bruno Ossebi died a day before a scheduled medical evacuation to France.

The fire on 21 January followed the publication on Mwinda, three days earlier, of an article by Bruno Ossebi alleging high-level corruption within the government, in particular the President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. The article featured an interview with Mr Benjamin Toungamani, an exiled political dissident. On the same night of the fire at Bruno Ossebi's home, a similar fire reportedly hit Benjamin Toungamani's home, causing no injuries. The spokeperson of the national police initially declared that no investigation would be carried out. The Office of the Prosecutor later opened an investigation, which has produced no results to date.

It is reported that both Bruno Ossebi and Benjamin Toungamani were planning to become co-plaintiffs in a legal complaint filed in France against President Denis Sassou-Nguesso and the Presidents of neighbouring Equatorial Guinea and Gabon for embezzlement of public funds. In January 2009, in Gabon, five human rights defenders suffered harassment in connection to the same lawsuit.

While no evidence has been gathered to prove that the fire at Bruno Ossebi's home was intentional, Front Line considers that the time of the incident and the parallel similar fire at Toungamani's home may suggest that the events were motivated by Bruno Ossebi's reporting on government corruption and by his involvement in the lawsuit against President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in France.

http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/1815

[Remember Bruno Ossebi]

Congo-Brazza: The Death of a Journalist - Who killed Bruno Ossebi?

http://tinyurl.com/dx55kf

[Emah]

How easy is for human beings to forget so soon. Why on earth should I feel sorry for somebody likeBiya one for the demise of Shanta or frank Biya?.Can Somebody tell me why? These are people either directly or indirectly contributing to the death and suffering of millions of Cameroons.

I have limited idea about the role this lady may have played in some of the Decisions her father(Denis Sasso) or the husband, Umah Mbongo, might have taken but I have no doubt she has been part of some decisions. As we inherited the sins of Adam/Eve without our knowing it, she too inherited some blames/guilt from the father and husband either by chioce or design.

May her soul be in the rightful place, hell or heaven as she has led her life.No pitty.

For her father, I hope this serves him a lesson and compassion of heart to the millions he has killed and deprived of livelihood here on earth. I await the day he dies in a plane crash or ghastly motorcade accident.

I am in no case immortal, but i should pay the price for my action and will hold no one responsible for my rewards.

[Enanga]

As we used to say in pidgin as children: "E sweet! pepper sugar enta dey!"

[The SouthWesterner]

ASHUKA GONGOLI. U have not seen anything yet. Bastardo.

[camnetwork]

Question of the Day (From Camnetwork):

"These are the titans and kings of corruption in Africa who married women
who helped them to deplete their countries' wealth on eye-popping luxury. I'll always wonder why Edith Sassou-Nguesso married a man 27 years her senior, older than her father, shorter than her, and one who is not of the same intellectual stature
as her."

[George Bamu]

Mr. Dibussi,

You have done some good work but this piece about Mr. Sassou Nguesso is one of the worst commentaries about Africa that i have read. We'll, there are many of these writing about Africa out there, but the worse about citizen journalism is only getting worst.

It appears that anyone with access to the internet and with the ability to express themselves can now say anything about Africa, even when the facts are skewed. For that, you are using your blog to help perpetrate these half truths, rumors and smear campaign against African leaders.

There may be corruption, mismanagement and other ills taking place under the watchful eyes of these leaders but it is not a reason to use the death of their loved ones as a means of justifying hate against them.

How about we hold our leaders accountable and measure them for their stewardship based on facts, not allegations. Even if these allegations are true, death is not a reason to write an expose aimed only at insulting them and their families. By the way, many of us are not showing enough leadership where we are today other than to write essays about “perfect scenarios” that might exists in Africa

All I have read in this piece is hearsay and second hand truths.

Please do me a favor and the journalism world some favor by not publishing junk like these. I am sure these guys can create their own websites and blog about Africa any way they want. It may be citizen journalism but when you take the time to translate such nonsense it into English, I wonder where you want to go with this. Our citizens may love it because we all hate our governments, but what purpose does this serve? Can we stop the personal l attacks and assault against African leaders and show some respect and leadership for what passes for journalism.

Please free to write back.

Thanks for all the scribbles!
George Bamu

[po mbia]

Mr George Bamu,

I`m not surprised by your typical "bury your head in the sand" response.

Whatever you may think of the article, does it not astound you that the wife and daughter of heads of states of petroleum producing countries (67 years in power between them), should spend her last days in a foreign hospital.

Anyway, as a founder of one of those thingies (Africa Agenda), to promote (read white wash) Africa, I`m sure your bread is buttered on both sides. As someone aptly put it: instead of taking a wash, some would prefer to douse the stench with perfume.

[George Bamu]

Mr. Mbia,
Thanks for your comments. First of all i don't thing you get the point.

Please, again, desist from throwing these personal insults and calling my organization "thingies". I am trying to make a valid point. We may have differences about how Mr. Dibussi has chosen to characterize the passing away of president Sassou Nguessou's daughter.

When you throw these insults, i don't thing you are helping Africa in anyway.

[Enanga]

The article is simply making the point that leaders such as Nguessou are quick to condemn other people's children and family members to death without a second thought, in their effort to gain power and wealth through violence. So does it give us some pleasure to watch him wailing for his dead daughter? The answer is YES. And in my opinion there is nothing wrong with expressing our glee.

[Ndulu Kabongo]

Mr. Bamu,

The Congolese civil of 1997 which was initiated by Sassou led to the deaths of about 15,000 Congolese and the displacement of thousands of children who fled across the river congo to Kinshasa. Many more Congolese died once Sassou returned to power. These are verifiable fact.

So I personally think that the author of this article was quite mild, restrained and even unecessarily respectful in his brilliant piece. Sassou is a bloody and bloodthirsty tyrant. Ask the Congolese who have felt the full brunt of his madness

In case you are not sure about the facts, here are five books that will help you to fully understand what Sassou Ngeusso and his henchmen did to Congo-Brazaville:

Dabira, N. (1998). Brazzaville à feu et à sang: 5 juin-15 octobre 1997. Points de vue concrets. Paris: L'Harmattan.

Makouta-Mboukou, J. P. (1999). La destruction de Brazzaville, ou, La démocratie guillotinée. Paris: L'Harmattan.

Pigasse, J. P. (1997). Congo, chronique d'une guerre annoncée: 5 juin-15 octobre 1997. Paris: Editions ANRF-ADIAC.

Rupture-Solidarité (Organization). (1999). Congo-Brazzaville: Dérives politiques, catastrophe humanitaire, désirs de paix. Mutations, défis en Afrique centrale. Paris: Karthala.

Yengo, P. (2006). La guerre civile du Congo-Brazzaville, 1993-2002: "chacun aura sa part". Paris: Éditions Karthala.

I hope that the next time around, you will do your research before making comments in public, particularly since you are a member of an organization whose reputation and credibility may suffer as a result of your faux pas.

[John Ndep]

Hello Mr. Bamu; there is nothing as pathetic as baseless arrogance. So because you worked with CRTV or have a mass communications degree from the University of Buea you think you are the only qualified journalist on the blogosphere?

For the record, Cedric Kalonji is one of the most respected and internationally recognized journalists from the Democratic Republic of Congo currently at the "Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Lille" in France. He also has one of the most respected French language blogs - in fact, his blog won the 2007 Radio Deutsche Welle award for the Best French language blog in the world. So you are making a fool of yourself with your rant about "anyone with access to the internet and with the ability to express themselves can now say anything about Africa". That is not only an insult to Mr. Kalonji, whose stature you will never attain, but also to the University of Buea where I am sure your lecturers taught you that real journalists challenge an idea or a message and never attack or try to belittle the messenger.

What exactly are these "half truths, rumors and smear campaign against African leaders" contained in this thought-provoking piece? We can't know because "Mr. trained journalist" did not bother to tell us; instead he was ranting about citizen journalism. what a pity!

No wonder university education in Cameroon is increasingly losing its luster...

[African and Proud]

On some points, I agree with Mr. Bamu here. This is what's killing Africans. You are talking about Congolese people hating their leader; if they didn't have compassion for their head of State do you think they would have mourned with him the way they did for 10 days?! The whole population was mourning with him and his family.

You are saying the time had come for her daughter. I'd say unfortunately the time had come for all who died during the war. If you want to go along with that I'd say everything that's happening whether it's good or bad is a will of God... so in that case we shouldn't be "complaining"

“So does it give us some pleasure to watch him wailing for his dead daughter? The answer is YES. And in my opinion there is nothing wrong with expressing our glee”.

This is absolutely wrong! How can you be happy to see someone crying for a loved one?! Remember one thing, you doing buy it, you don’t control it, it knocks at all doors….My point here is, when you face death and considering our African traditions, we should put all hatred aside, mourn the person who died and continue the fight after.

We are out there criticizing everyday but no one has ever come up with constructive solutions. Africans from the Diaspora are always complaining but what are they doing to change things. Even from far away you can do things for your country. And yes, stop talking about allegations but bring us the facts!

[Emah]

So does it give us some pleasure to watch him wailing for his dead daughter. My ANSWER IS YES.

Why shouldn't he feel the same pain he has caused hundreds if not thousand of people and families?

I REJOICE SEENG HIM WAIL.YES WHY NOT?

Not saying I will not die, but these are people who have brought untold suffering to many,why then should I also feel pity for him?.

How many hundreds of people mourn or even the whole country goes on its knees doesn't change the basic fact. The day Biya, Chanta or Frank Biya will die, mourning will be declared for months or even years but all that has no meaning. The bottom line is that, even they too, die and are subjected to same mother Earth.

These are ruthless people so they deserve no such pity because they know no such words in their vocabulary.

Will I be happy seeing BIYA WAIL. On MY GOD YES YES and YES. Is my lifetime wish. He too should be able to see at least one before he goes to his grave.

[Renee]

Dear Mr. Bamu,
In all your arrogance as a journalist you continually used the word thing in place of think. This forum is for people to express thier views. politically correct or not. Give people a break and get off your moral high horse. Everyone has a right to their opinions.

[julius]

Thank you mr Buma,
The problem with Africans and Cameroonians in aprticular is that we all see it when somebody is wrong, we all see the sand in others eyes while forgeting the rock in our own eyes.
You get all these people ready to take and give bribe ranting about corrupt government when the entire country including themselves are corrupt!
It's a massive shame, listen to cameroonians and you'll think the problem is all Biya, but the country is filled with cheaters, fruadsters, scammers and people giving and taking bribe.
CHANGE MY BROTHERS AND OTHERS WILL FOLLOW

[Enanga]

Excuse me but the problem IS Biya. Isn't it the government's responsibility to enforce law and justice? If regular people are giving and taking bribes it's because Biya and the rest of the government have let the country rot to the point where to get ahead one has to stoop so low. Yes, the problem is Biya. We need a massive social and political reform in Cameroon - beginning at the top. Get rid of those corrupt, incompetent imbeciles, the biggest of which is Paul Biya. The old men at the top are holding onto power and getting richer and richer off the country's resources while the masses are struggling to make ends meet. There's no "rock in our own eyes," there's a huge boulder in the government's eyes and that's what we are pointing to.

[Meta]

Sophocles said "Call no man happy until he is safely in his grave" Sassou Nguesso, will live his hell here on earth for the crimes he has committed against innocent Congolese. This is just the beginning.
Larry

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

Serves him right; the mothers of all those massacred children were moaning while he bulldozed his way into power and basked in riches at the expense of the people.

Biya,

Brenda, Jr. and Frank will be next in line. Then, we shall see your botoxed-face marred with uncountable face lifts defroze and weep in agony.
Does Brenda Biya not attend school in Switzerland or some other European country? we need to map out an elaborate plan to kidnap her and do away with the nonsense. Then Biya will feel how millions of Cameroonians feel.

[Jujukalaba]

UnitedstatesofAfrica,
I understand your grievances. But when you call for the kidnap and elimination of Brenda Biya, it beats me. This is just a child and I do not think she should pay for the sins of her parents, neither will you be happy either here on earth or in your grave to hear that somebody is trying to persecute your kids for sins you committed on earth? I will not be happy if a thing like that happends to my kids. Please lets be watchful the way we make our comments.

[Ma Mary]

Bamu, death is a sacred event in many African cultures. That is why we spend so much money on death celebrations, but give nothing to the person when alive to buy medicines. So you suggest that the ordinary people of Africa should respect Sasou Nguesso when he is bereaved. That is a decent thing to do, but Sasou Nguesso is a mass murderer. In order to achieve and hold on to power, he killed tens of thousands of his fellow Africans/Congolese. Why should his fellow Africans mourn with him? Why should they not wish him a ton of pain? Is the death of his daughter a sadder event than the deaths of their loved ones that he caused?

I shall not tell you how I feel, because it alarms even me. All I can say is that people should check their anger, as justified as it is.

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

Jujukalaba

I reject your sentimentality and you should equally reject it too.
The truth about life is the innocent suffer for the mistakes of those who came before them.
The mistakes of Foncha at the Foumban Conference of July 1961 has negatively affected Anglophones in this cameroon from the 1960s to this very moment. Was I present when Foncha was negotiating with Ahidjo? no! am I suffering the effects of Foncha's decisions? yes!
Chiefs sold their own people into slavery and oppression in America. Generations of African Americans were treated as animals and deprived from basic human rights.They were not alive when the chiefs sold their great grand fathers but didn't they suffer the consequences?

Brenda, Frank and Junior Biya are no exception. There are no different from the millions of children who lost their lives in Congo due to a power-hungry battle which had nothing to do with them. If these children die for no apparent reason, why can't Brenda, Junior and Frank equally die for no apparent reason? we feign pity for these children because they are public figures yet we forget to put faces of the millions of massacred children all over Africa who are killed by people with political ambitions.

I would say it again, we need an elaborate plan to kidnap Brenda from that her school and do away with her. Then Biya will start to feel an iota of the pain average Cameroonians feel. We really need mafias in Africa who can snatch these presidentail children when they visit foreign countries. I hear Frank Biya is a regular in France and America...wasting tax payers' money. This is the perfect opportunity to grab him. He shall undergo the torture routine used in the SAW movies. No mercy.

[DANGO TUMMA]

PAUL BIYA AND AHIJO HATES 7MILLION
BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONINANS
SOO MUCH THAT EVERY OCTOBER 1ST, PAULBIYA WILL SEND TROOPS IN THEIR COUNTRY TO KILL AND ARREST EVERY MOVING MAN,WOMEAN AND CHILD, WHAT HAVE THE WORLD
SAID ABOUT THAT, ITS OVER 46 YEARS AND HE IS STILL IN THIS MAD MINSET