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| NEWS ARTICLE |
Liberia ’s socio-cultural framework is deeply marred by the inherent dangers of unmitigated tribalism. This was true yesterday, it is true today,
and may be true tomorrow if nothing substantial is done to cleanse ourselves of this nightmarish phenomenon. Our destiny as a nation
hinges, in a large measure, on our ability to work together across tribal lines in addressing the many pitfalls that are hindering our quest for
sustainable human and infrastructural development in Liberia . The old adage: UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL, is truly applicable in
this situation. If we as citizens of Liberia do not begin to look at each other beyond the tribal descriptions: Mandingo Man, Gio Man, Congo
Woman, Lorma Woman, etc, I am afraid we will be headed for a reversal of all the minimal gains we have made so far after the brutal civil war.
Recent events that have unfolded in Liberia leave me terribly worried as to the course we have continued to pursue as a nation in the fight to
promote lasting peace, unity, and development. As much as I strive to paint a broader picture of this tribalism virus in general, I take note of
the especially venomous attacks it has rained on the Mandingo tribe in particular. The Mandingoes have suffered tremendously in Liberia
from day one up to now. The propensity for people in Liberia to take negative swipes at the Mandingo tribe knows no bounds. This is done
through open antagonism as well as subtle maneuvers to deny them what is rightfully theirs. Several instances come to mind:
- The Ganta, Nimba County situation where parcels of land belonging to the Mandingoes were wrongfully and maliciously seized. As at
this writing, nothing substantive has been done to legally resolve this situation. The national government appears to be taking a
nonchalant approach to the problem. The body set up to look into the dispute and come up with appropriate recommendations for the
timely resolution of the crisis remains conspicuously quiet. Isn’t there a term of reference for this body part of which addresses the time
frame for the conclusion of their work? Why is the Ellen Sirleaf government not holding this body to this time frame if there is one?
Frankly, in my mind, loosing one’s land only because you are a member of a particular tribal group should not be a problem we should
have in post-war Liberia . I would have bet we were long since beyond that point. What will it take for us (Liberians) to learn our lesson?
Acquiring land fraudulently is a legal issue that should be addressed in the courts and not by special bodies appointed by the powers
that be. The reason behind why our respected government is letting this vicious manifestation of tribalism endure is beyond my
understanding.
- The Morris Dukuly Incident: This one sent shockwaves through my spine. Our noble president with all her education and exposure to
the workings of government and the judicial mechanism made a complete mess of this situation. Where is our government’s
understanding of the principle of “presumption of innocence until proven guilty”. Without any proper investigation, this honorable
gentleman was besmeared, chastised, and literally forced to resign. In my mind of minds, I know he was dismissed. I find it difficult to
imagine if this whole charade had nothing to do with his being a “DUKULY”. Even more frustrating is the fact that after several
government commissioned investigations cleared him of any culpability for the fire at the mansion, no apology was extended to him by
the government nor was he given the opportunity to resume his duties at the Ministry of State. What a travesty!
- The Kabineh Janneh Issue: Kabineh’s appointment to the Supreme Court raised the ire of a large portion of the nation’s populace.
Explanation for this untoward outburst of opposition to his appointment ranged from the question of qualification to war crimes
concerns. I do not for one second buy into all of that junk. Let’s call a spade a spade here: Kabineh was being opposed because and
solely because of one major reason: he is Mandingo!
These are but few of the many instances in which tribalism has reared its menacing head in swaying national policies. Traditionally, the
Mandingoes have not cared much about politics. In fact, all they were deeply vested in was and still is doing business and moving on with
their daily lives. Even with such low-profile lifestyle, Mandingoes continued to be subjected to all manners of vicious attacks and humiliation by
a cross-section of Liberian society. Personally, it was painful for me growing up as an innocent little Mandingo boy in Monrovia in the late
1980s. My innocence and sense of belonging was brutally ripped one early morning when some ignorant person called me a “damn
foreigner”. My parents were born in Liberia , I was born in Liberia , how much more Liberian can I be? I am entitled to whatever constitutional
rights there are for any Liberian. I am sick and tired of ignorant people spewing tribal hate. It is about time Liberia moves forward and one way
to ensure this is for each citizen, every household, every tribe, and the national government to initiate inter-tribal dialogue and tolerance.
Like Dr. Martin Luther King famously dreamt many years back, I dream now that Liberians of all shades and orientations will now not be
judged by their tribal affiliations but by the content of their characters and their capacity to contribute positively to the overall development of
the country. I truly hope that this is not too much to ask.
About the Author: Akeem Komara lives in Brooklyn Park , Minnesota and can be reached at komaraakeem@yahoo.com.
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| Tribalism: An Unyielding Menace in Liberia’s Social Fabric Sat, Dec 23, 2006 By: Akeem Komara |