Its Europe or death and suicide it was for Ebenizer Folefack.

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It is Thursday 1st May 2008 in Belgium. In a closed illegal migrant center in Merkplas, a male African takes his life in protest of a second forced repatriation. Ebenizer Folefack dies.

Ebenizer Folefack was facing a planned second forced repatriation next Monday following a failed first attempt that brought him back to Belgium and in isolation cell. But the repatriation if any, will be different. Quite and in horizontal position, far away from the rest of the passengers who will not even be aware that somewhere on that plane is the body of a man who’se only crime was the lack of some “necessary’ identification papers.

It’s time Africa learned its lesson as history is about to repeat itself, the African leadership is drowning in the freak of power and glamorous personal gains instead of personal sacrifices to elevate the living standards and image of hundreds of millions of its masses suffering at home and abroad.

Every year, hundreds of Africans drown in the Atlantic or Mediterranean Sea, not as pioneer explorers but as illegal aliens trying to reach Europe. Those who are lucky enough to get there are faced with untold misery of racism and social exclusion. But to them, its still better than home. Better because of availability of affordable food and clothing, but that’s about all. African leaders or their envoys in Brussels will probably designate someone to write a letter on behalf of Africa and that will be the end of the story. “We wrote a letter of protest to the King”, they will proudly say, but business goes on as usual.

Africa is stuck in the mud
Should we blame Europe for creating such a high wall or should we be bold enough for once and call a spade a spade? Well, I have no doubt in my mind that we’re stuck in the mud.

Ebenizer Folefack died because he refused to go back to Cameroon, the beautiful land President Paul Biya has single handedly ruled for 3 unbroken decades. The country of Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o

While writing this article, reports coming from the UN backed tribunal at The Hague confirmed reports that Liberia's ex-President Charles Taylor had about $5bn in two US bank accounts during his presidency. He denies allegations. In Zimbabwe, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said there will be no re-run with President Mugabe who according to MDC, lost the elections outright. Mugabe is still trying all tricks to extend his presidential life even after 3 decades in power.

In Kenya, the situation is not much different. While President Mwai Kibaki was at the negotiation table with ODM for a coalition government, he hurriedly installed 17 ministers. By the time the new coalition government came to force, Kenya had 42 ministers and now he tells Kenyans that all this is beyond his control.

Africa needs swift and decisive leadership. When it emerged that the votes were seriously faltered with on December 30th 2007, When the disgraced ECK Chairman Samuel Kivuitu confessed that he actually did not know who won the elections between Kibaki and Raila, the president should have been the first to condemn and sack Kivuitu with immediate effect. He should then have annulled the elections and order for fresh re-run, for the sake of the country. This is what leadership is all about.

The whole world know of what became of Kenya… Another African story of misery and failed state.

Today Ebenizer Folefack is dead in the European capital. A few Africans will meet and condemn slavery, colonialism and racism but forget that whites, unless in Zimbabwe, don’t have to demonstrate against racism because they have many institutions installed globally to ensure their rights and safety. Even as I write, with all the ideological differences among Europeans, if a Russian disappears while climbing Mount Kenya, American or British military installations in Kenya will immediately send military choppers to find their missing.

Can someone out there come out and save Africa from this misery?