African Nations Stumble Toward Democracy

This article, dated November 15, is written by Katy Guest for the London-based Independent.

Liberia elects her first woman president, as it continues to heal her deep wounds caused by civil war. However, her rival for the presidency demands a re-count, claiming the elections were rigged.

Uganda's government arrests the leader of the opposition on charges of treason. The opposition denies the charges, claiming it is a excuse by the government to keep itself in power.

Ethiopia's prime minister also brought treason charges against his opposition after riots leaving many dead. The opposition has made similar charges against the Addis Ababa government as in Uganda.

Alas, such is life in the world of politics, whether in America, Russia or the bleeding nations of Africa. As Chesterton wrote in the Illustrated London News in 1918:

"When a politician is in opposition he is an expert on the means to some end; and when he is in office he is an expert on the obstacles to it."

Let us pray for the peoples of Africa, that God may give them upright and honest governments...especially ones who know of and practice Distributism.