Africa’s strongmen should give up power gracefully

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila. (Photo: AFP)

Behind the scenes diplomatic efforts to remove stubborn African strongmen from office are positive developments that may help resolve a leadership standoff in two nations on the continent.

Senegal will lead a military intervention to oust Gambia’s outgoing President Yahya Jammeh if he refuses to step down when his mandate expires on January 19.

And in the Democratic Republic of Congo, politicians have agreed in principle to a deal under which President Joseph Kabila leaves office by the end of next year.

African leaders need to wake up to the fact that their voice is not necessarily the people’s aspiration and that the masses have realised that they are indeed entitled to a better future and alternative leadership.

Kabila, the President of the DRC since 2001, is among a breed of African big men gradually driving themselves into extinction by illegally holding on to power for too long, antagonising entire populations.

The continent has demonstrated in recent polls that for the first time, the people understand the power that their vote has and they are no longer afraid to speak up against tyranny and infamy perpetrated by the political class.

Gambia’s self-declared prophet and healer Jammeh is yet to recover from being rejected by the masses. Heading into the New Year, power hungry tyrants and selfish leaders all through Africa should read the signs of the time. The power of the ballot has been reclaimed by the masses. The voices of the masses at the ballot must be respected.