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Mali in crisis

22 Mar

 

Yesterday afternoon, as Yeah was finishing up a meeting in downtown Bamako, he watched in surprise as across the street military troops led by Capt Amadou Aya Sanogo surrounded the National TV station. Shots were fired in the air, but no civilian was endangered. Soon after the TV and radio stations shut down. For a while the troops blocked access out of the downtown area, but Yeah was able to get home.

As we waited for events to unfold, we received reports that several military officials were livid with the government’s handling of the issue in the North, specifically not arming the troops well with food and weapons to match their enemies. The result of the last few months of fighting in the North between AZAWAD and Mali’s troops have caused deaths on both sides and also displaced about 180000 refugees. As we watched and waited, these military troops stormed the Presidential palace and several high-ranking government officials were captured. Gunfire could be heard sporadically as additional ministers were captured and citizens warned not to interfere.

At 4am, the military troops under the name of National Committee for the Reestablishment of Democracy and the Restoration of the State, or CNRDR came on National TV advising the reasons behind which they had removed the President from power. They advised that temporarily military rule and curfew was in place and asked citizens not to venture outdoors. Then again about 11am, they issued another statement reaffirming their intentions and advising that a temporary government would be put in place on the 27th of March and advising all administration to return to work on that day or consider it job abandonment.  Currently all airports and borders are shut down as well.

This situation has definitely been hair-raising. At this time, there is no word on the elections that were to happen on April 29th. This group keeps reaffirming that power is not their intention and there will be a return to democratic rule once national unity is restored and territorial integrity is re-established. The only question that remains is when.

Yeah issued this statement regarding the situation on behalf of his party PACP. It follows in French and English

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Chers compatriotes,

Le Parti pour l’Action Civique et Patriotique (P.A.C.P) a suivi avec stupéfaction la mutinerie d’hommes de rang qui s’est dégénérée en une usurpation du pouvoir démocratique.

Le P.A.C.P condamne avec la dernière vigueur la confiscation du pouvoir par des militaires se réclamant du Comité National …pour le Redressement de la Démocratie et la Restauration de l’État (C.N.R.D.R). …

Le P.A.C.P demande à l’ensemble du Peuple souverain du Mali de se mobiliser pour la défense et la consolidation des acquis démocratiques.

Nos ambitions politiques personnelles ne devraient pas nous éloigner des gages qui consacrent la splendeur et la pureté des grandes valeurs qui reposent sur les fondements du vivre ensemble. Ce vivre ensemble qui fortifie la confiance et la cohésion entre les citoyens d’un même pays qu’est notre Mali.

Nous demandons aux forces armées de restaurer urgemment l’unité des différents corps militaires pour la quiétude de la population et prendre les dispositions idoines pour la protection des personnes et des biens sur toute l’étendue du territoire national.

Nous invitons la classe politique malienne à s’organiser pour exiger la remise immédiate du pouvoir au peuple malien par la constitution d’un gouvernement d’union pour assurer la continuité de l’administration et le maintien du calendrier électoral dans le respect strict de la constitution.
Vive la démocratie !
Vive le Mali !
Divisés nous perdons tous ! Unis nous gagnons tous!

In English:

Dear compatriots,

The Party for Civic Action and Patriotic (PACP) followed with amazement the mutiny of men of rank which has degenerated into a usurpation of democratic authority.

The PACP condemns with the utmost vigor the confiscation of power by the military calling itself the National Committee for the Recovery of Democracy and the Restoration of the State (CNRDR).

The PACP asks all of the Sovereign People of Mali to mobilize for the defense and consolidation of democratic gains.

Our personal political ambitions should not get away from pledges to spend the splendor and purity of the great values that are based on the foundations of living together. This is what strengthens confidence and cohesion among citizens of a country that is our Mali.

We ask the military to urgently restore the unity of the various military corps for the tranquility of the population and make appropriate arrangements for the protection of persons and goods throughout the national territory.

We invite Malian politicians to organize and demand the immediate transfer of power to the people of Mali by the formation of a unity government to ensure continuity of administration and maintenance of the electoral calendar in strict compliance with the constitution.

Long live democracy!
Long live Mali!
Divided we all lose! United we all win!

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To all my family and friends, please be assured that my family is fine. We are very worried about what this means for Malians and the Malian refugees displaced. Now is a crucial time for the Malian people. At this time, we pray and hope that there is a swift resolution to this internal crisis. We also pray and hope that no more people will fall on the way to restoring democracy. May Mali recover from this crisis. Vive Mali.

 
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Posted by on March 22, 2012 in Past Posts

 

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What this election is all about

17 Mar

When I first heard of Yeah’s decision to run for President eight years ago, in all seriousness, I thought the man was trying to impress me. I thought he was joking. Why would someone living in the land of opportunity (America), want to lead the land of no opportunity (Mali). I dismissed this statement to the back of my mind, never thinking of it again until Yeah became the executive director of Mali Rising Foundation. Now don’t get me wrong, Yeah has always had a deep passion for Mali and his family. He would at times send money to his family even when he had barely enough to cover his rent and tuition. When he started with Mali Rising Foundation, he focused on the issue very close to his heart and the one issue that Mali is combating very heavily today. The Lack of education. The schools he built with American partners had one goal only and that was to alleviate the obstacles young children faced with not having easy access to a God-given right of literacy. Soon enough, the foundation was facilitating medical services to the people of Mali, something that is done till today. There have been multiple containers containing computers, solar panels, desks, school kits and medical supplies that have benefited the Malian people. Since 2004, Yeah and the Mali Rising Foundation have sought to make the lives of Malians better. This is a role that the government should be fulfilling but has failed miserably at it. In 2009, the dream became more of a reality when Yeah told me he was running for Mayor of Ouelessebougou. At that time, I in my selfishness asked him if he was crazy. Today, I see the changes he has brought to his commune of Ouelessebougou. His commune boasts clean running water, a solar field that provides electricity, the only high school in the region and a new hospital in progress. This has been accomplished in a span of less than 3 years.

The first time I came to Mali in 2006, the poverty and lack of opportunity hit me first. But behind this, one only had to look a bit to see beautiful happy people. I have never met a people who are happier than Malians. However, I have also never seen people poorer than Malians. Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. Surprising given that they are one of the major exporters of cotton and gold, two commodities that are in high demand in the world. As the current president Amadou Toumani Toure leaves office, he leaves the country in the same state he took it. The only difference is that there are more foreign investments in terms of buildings, airport and roads, that begs the question about what favors were bought. Today, Mali has these facts to bear:

  • Infant Mortality: 111 deaths per 1,000 births
  • Literacy Rate: 46.4%
  • Unemployment: 30%
  • Life expectancy: 52 years
  • 1 doctor per 20,000 people

This country does not need a savior. They need someone who cares. They need someone who has experienced the pain of malaria and hunger first hand. They need someone who knows the pain of losing a loved one to an inadequate healthcare system. They need someone who knows what it means not to earn a paycheck for months on end. That person is Yeah Samake. There is no professional agenda here. The only goal Yeah has is to help the people he loves so much out of the depth and despair that bad governance has condemned them to.

If we are to remain serious competitors against the leaders that have embezzled money for the last 30 years, then we need to raise $50000 immediately. Our party PACP (Parti pour l’Action Civique et Patriotique) will hold its launch on March 25th 2012. The entire event will be televised in an attempt to educate people about what their options are in terms of good leaders. In 42 days, Malians will go to the polls to elect their next President. It is my hope and prayer that Yeah Samake will become the President of Mali, not for personal gain, but because I believe with all my heart that this country deserves the chance and the hope that Yeah can bring.

Please help us today if you can. The time has come to make that donation you have been thinking about and if you weren’t then maybe thinking about making one. What better way to bring change than to elect a leader whose actions will trickle down? We cannot do this without you. Join us in welcoming a new day in Mali and let April 29th 2012 spell change and success for a struggling nation.

Donate if you can at http://www.samake2012.com

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Posted by on March 17, 2012 in Past Posts

 

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Three cheers for PACP in Commune III(Trois)

05 Mar

The team returned from Koutiala, and after a brief rest, they departed for a rally in Commune III which is in Bamako. Yeah’s major support comes from the villages. Rural Mali forms a majority of the voting block. The newspaper L’Independant recently reported: “Yeah Samake is the candidate who goes to the small villages of Mali to live the life of the people. As the candidate of PACP, Yeah Samaké breaks the historical trend by campaigning in the villages. ” (  Boubacar PAITHAO, L’Indépendant du 28 février 2012; http://www.maliweb.net/news/politique/2012/02/28/article,51111.html)

It is important for PACP to make itself as well known in the city. The rally in Commune III was held to recognize Yeah’s candidature. This was a different rally of sorts in terms of the welcome given to Yeah. He was welcomed by 4 men wearing Samake2012 T-shirts and riding 4 horses. This was amazing to watch these horses herald in the PACP car. In addition to the horses there were 75 youth that honked their motorcycle horns to signal the arrival of Yeah. I kept expecting these horses to bolt, but the horses remained calm and seemed used to the ruckus that surrounded them. The people on the other hand were intrigued by the noise and came out of their houses to see who was passing. It was a welcome fit for a king and we were humbled by its grandiosity.

Horses herald PACP cars in to Commune III

Look at those motorcycles!!

As the car neared its destination, four army personnel escorted it in. PACP volunteers lined up as Yeah got out. This was a big event and played host to 300 people and 100 volunteers. In addition, the national TV was there to cover the event. There was local talent followed by Petit Ballo, the Samake2012 singer. Liz attempted to get the crowd involved in the dancing and soon there was a good-sized crowd dancing to good music. PACP member Kane, who had arranged this event, spoke very highly of Yeah and his achievements. Yeah then got up to speak. He spoke with a power and passion that beleaguered his convictions. As he spoke, his audience sat raptured and made very little sound. He spoke of his desire to return to Mali to help his people and encouraged the people to vote for a leader that would truly serve his country. As Yeah was leaving, ORTM ushered him for a final interview.

The support is growing in Bamako. Commune III is an important section of Bamako. The support amazes us. The conviction of people in what we stand for grows. It isn’t ok for a child to not get a good education. It is not ok, for the healthcare system to be so inadequate that infant mortality sits at 111/1000 deaths and the average age is 52 years. We have been given much and to who much is given much is expected. We hope that we can be the light and solution that Mali needs. Mali needs a leader  that will be willing and able to resolve the issues ravaging its potential.

Please help us welcome a new day in Mali. We can’t do it without you. Its time to affect the future of a nation. It’s time to put corrupt leaders out of business. Are you up to the challenge? Show your support @ http://www.samake2012.com.

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Posted by on March 5, 2012 in Past Posts

 

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Sikasso makes its voice heard

25 Feb

Team Samaké headed by Yeah left at 4 am in the morning so they could make it to a meeting in Sikasso, which is 375km or a 6-hour drive away. The next campaign area would be an essential one for the Samake2012 campaign.

Sikasso is a picturesque city in the south of Mali and the capital of the Sikasso Region.  It borders Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. The reason this region is essential is because of its size. It is the second largest electoral region with a population of about 190,000. Yeah was traveling to Sikasso to meet with an essential group whose support or lack there of could bring either success or failure to his campaign. This group is none other than the mayors and commune leaders of Sikasso.

One of Yeah’s most basic policies is decentralization—the return of power from the central to local governments by empowering local governments to take a more proactive stance in running their day-to-day affairs. You would think that the minute a mayor heard decentralization, they would immediately be on aboard given that more power would rest with the Mayors office than before. However the biggest change would be accountability. At the local level, these leaders would have to be accountable to the constituents of their communes. It is easier to cheat someone when you cannot see their face. But when you are literally sharing the same bread, it is not that easy. To truly want to serve and empower one’s people, mayors need to embrace decentralization.

When Yeah initially started to speak, the skepticism hung around the room like a wet blanket. However the power of seeing something can never compare with words. The minute the video that shows his story ended, his audience was sold.

Here was a man who had never taken a dime of any Malian’s money. Rather, he had given much back. The schools he has built through generous donors in America would not only affect this generation but generations to come. The medical and dental expeditions that had come would help extend someone’s life and in some cases save lives. The school supplies that he encouraged Americans to donate would allow children to each experience if only for a little while the joy of having their own supplies. Having clean running water in Ouelessebougou would help reduce diseases. A solar panel would help produce electricity to run a commune. Computers would infuse a fresh life of technology into classrooms. What these mayors saw was what Yeah could do given a few resources. Now imagine, if he was able to turn a country rich in resources to a country that utilized its resources to benefit its people and not its leader’s pockets.

The vision Yeah emphasized in French was: « Ma mission est d’assurer un Mali décentralisé pour une école de qualité, une meilleure gestion des ressources humaines et financières, une meilleure responsabilisation des décideurs, et la promotion de l’entreprenariat ». (My mission is to provide a decentralized Mali to ensure higher quality of schools, better management of human resources and financial resources, better accountability of decision makers, and promoting entrepreneurship). The excitement was palatable as Mayors got up to shake his hand. I’m not saying every mayor in that room was converted, but we made enough of a stir that mayors would at least question the current policies that hindered growth and prosperity in their communes. The outcome of this first huge meeting was a large group of mayors from Koutiala (one of the regions) approached Yeah and told him they would hold a rally and invite the surrounding communes to come and hear his message. This was only the beginning of an amazing day.

Speaking to the mayors

The next essential meeting was held at the Hotel Maissa. Here the target group was a youth leadership group that was first created when PACP was announced. They were extremely excited to finally meet the candidate on whose behalf they had been campaigning for so long. Yeah spoke with quiet command. He spoke of his dream for a safe and stable Mali. He spoke about the needs of this youth group to have a stable education and job when they graduate. He gave them a hope that their time had come. It was time for their needs to be brought to the forefront. Education or the lack there of is a big issue in Mali today. For the past 6 months, the high schools and universities have been shut over a teacher’s strike. The government had been unable to fix the issue in a timely and just manner to all parties. How can a government like this function? 50 more years of inadequacy will continue if Malian youth do not fight for what they deserve. They deserve a better education, they deserve a better job, and they deserve a better future for themselves and their families. And it’s not too much to ask. The education system needs to be revamped. More than a 1000 more schools need to be built and teachers trained. Yeah Samaké is the man for the job!

Participants at the Meeting

One of things that Yeah has reiterated time and again is that “Mali is not a poor country; rather it has been made poor by the actions of its leaders”. On the way back, the team was taken aback by the serene beauty of Sikasso. It is hard not to fall in love with the serenity and uncomplicated way of life that these people have. In some places, you can even see the red brick wall (tata) that dates back to the French invasion. This region without a doubt could join the ranks of Timbuktu in terms of tourism. Sikasso also has one of the biggest networks of tunnels that are man-made. These tunnels were used by locals as hiding places during the war but now serve as a place to perform rituals. The view was breathtaking and indescribable.

One of the tunnels

The next interesting scene is closely related to one of Mali’s exports. Mali is the third biggest producer of gold in Africa. Lo and behold, what do we find as we are driving back? Gold Panning! We ran into a huge crowd of men, women and children surrounding a few extremely deep holes in the ground as they brought up bucket after bucket to pan for gold. This was awesome to watch!

Seeing how the bore hole works

The trip to Sikasso was an eye opener, not only in terms of support but also a wake up call to a different way of life. We think life is difficult if we are missing a TV or our Iphone. Malians are nor asking for much. What they are asking for is a good education, a stable healthcare system, jobs when they graduate and a fair chance to make a decent life for themselves. I truly believe that Yeah is the man for the job. This country needs someone who will put their interests first before their own, someone who will not embezzle from the country and someone whose expertise lies in education in developing countries. Please help us make these things a possibility by supporting us at www.samake2012.com. Together, let’s celebrate the country Mali can become under good leadership. Vive Mali!

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(Thank you to the Arringtons for the pictures and Cole & the Goodine group ( Travis and Joe) for their Midas touch on this video.)

 
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Posted by on February 25, 2012 in Past Posts

 

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Neighborhood bands together to support their candidate

09 Jan

Look at those huge speakers!! Photo courtesy of tomathon.com

The relationship of neighbors is a tricky one. In America, you either hate them or like them or love them. In Mali, neighbor relationships work differently.The neighbor relationship is a sacred one in which neighbors try not to offend each other. In Faladjie, where we live, two events showed the growing support of the neighborhood for Yeah.

The first was a balani that was organized by Nana, our next door neighbor, to raise awareness about the presence of a presidential candidate in the street. A balani is a musical event in which a DJ is hired that plays music so loud that your heart pounds with every beat and your window shakes with every speaker tremor. Balani is a strain of Malian Coupé Décalé with little guitar, fast percussion and melodies played on the Balafon (Malian xylophone). Coupé-Décalé is a music style featuring mostly African instruments, deep bass, and repetitive arrangements. Music affects the very heart of Malian culture and is every bit important here as the busy social life. I remember my first balani two years ago. It was a very special event that was put on by Yeah’s family in Ouelessebougou to celebrate my arrival in the village.

This youtube video truly captures what the balani is all about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaiWl9Yz2uc

The Samake2012 balani was set to start at 5pm but like all good Malian parties started at 9pm. The music blaring invited the youth from ours and surrounding streets to see what all the noise was about. The youth put on several dances throughout the night rapping about PACP and Yeah. The DJ described Yeah’s efforts and the dream that Mali would be free of poverty and corruption if they elected a young leader who had the capacity to bring change. It was an awesome night!! Good heart thumping music, great message and a wonderful support from neighbors.

The balani gave rise to an informal meeting by the youth of the street who asked Yeah to come speak to them so they could see how to best help the campaign. It also provided an opportunity to Yeah to learn what further affects the next generation of Malians. The meeting was a success and provided additional much needed support to Yeah’s already growing campaign.

Yeah speaking in Faladjie

The political atmosphere is amazing right now. Things move so fast that each day differs in political achievements. PACP is becoming the theme of change and many Malian youth and middle aged individuals are seeing it as their chance for a changed Mali. We were blessed to receive the support of our neighborhood. May their excitement be replicated thousand fold through Mali as the election fast approaches on April 29th.

 
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Posted by on January 9, 2012 in Past Posts

 

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