Friday, January 02, 2004
Good news from Africa, reported by the Christian Science Monitor: African criticism of Mugabe rises.
I had some hope that pressure from the US and Britain would help to end Mugabe's reign in Zimbabwe, but beyond isolating Mugabe and encouraging his opposition, pressure from the US and Europe isn't likely to do enough so long as Mugabe is supported by his neighbors.
The key African leader on this issue remains Thabo Mbeki, who has been painfully slow to confront Mugabe. As the article above reports, other leaders on the continent have indicated their disapproval of Zimbabwe. Mbeki's stance will make all the difference between a Yugoslav-style removal and a Somalia-style implosion.
I had some hope that pressure from the US and Britain would help to end Mugabe's reign in Zimbabwe, but beyond isolating Mugabe and encouraging his opposition, pressure from the US and Europe isn't likely to do enough so long as Mugabe is supported by his neighbors.
The key African leader on this issue remains Thabo Mbeki, who has been painfully slow to confront Mugabe. As the article above reports, other leaders on the continent have indicated their disapproval of Zimbabwe. Mbeki's stance will make all the difference between a Yugoslav-style removal and a Somalia-style implosion.
