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| Let us come together as one and let go our differences. By: Mr. Mamadee Konneh, WIMAM's President, July 9, 2006 |
It has been said and as we all are aware, “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”. Why can't we be good listeners and allow others to express their opinions? I would like to point out some issues that are affecting our community, and my administration will do every thing to solve this dispute if Allah’s agree. |
| Usurpation of Mandingo Lands, A threat to National Security.....Nimba County as a Case Study By: Varfley A. Dolleh July10, 200 |
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Introduction: As an emerging political actor, I learned in one of my “Graduate Classes” in “International Diplomacy” at the “university of Liberia” that land is one of the fundamental and tangible elements of power and remains a recipe for past and present conflicts, ranging from the “Palestinian and Israelis conflict, the Pakistani and Indian War, the Iraq and Kuwaiti War, the Falkland War, among others, with Liberia being of no exception, especially, in the wake of the “Scramble for Land” in Nimba County, with the “Mandingoes versus the Gio and Manos”, considered by analyst as a catalyst for conflict and a threat to “National Security of Liberia.” Historical homogeneity: Historians will concord that prior to the emergence of the colonialists in the 1800s and the subsequent partitioning of the region, the various tribes were more or like “homogeneous solidifying the socio-economic and political formation of the tribal setting. It was an enviable developmental progression leading to inter-tribal marriage, formation of alliances in time of war, couple with enhancement of trade through the barter system among others. These were fostered mainly because of their adherence to their oath of duty and the need to cement unity as one people and one destiny. Never did they allow petty differences to abort what they thought was good for them. It is because of these milestones that we saw intermarriages in the Nimba County, between the “Mandingoes” on the one hand versus the “Gio and Mano” on the other hand. The people of Nimba County live in commune fostering development with no resemblance of disagreement. They were able to resolve disputes through the intervention of opinion leaders or council of elders that litigated disputes amicably void of the brute force we have been using detrimental to our own survival. You will note that it was the colonialists that brought the demarcation of borders as a means of instituting artificial boundaries that didn’t exit. It was meant to divide the community and colonize them. It was realized that in the absence of instituting the “divide and rule policy”, they wouldn’t have succeeded in placing the various tribes under their sphere of influence, like what we see, for example, the “Francophone or Anglophone. So today if you were to travel to “Guinea” you will find more “Mano and Gio” than in Liberia. This shows how interconnected the families have remained for the past century. Today. Despite the short falls the feuding tribes are still intermarried and speak each other languages signifying the urgency to resolve the present land dispute moving forward for the restoration of peace and unity that have eluded us in present day Nimba County. Contributing variables to the conflict: Mindful of the fact that a person with a descending view may refer to my analysis as subjective for being a “Mandingo” is expected, but the truth is, I shall attempt to belabor in unearthing the variables as necessary, so help me Allah!! The first and foremost element of dispute was the issue of religiosity in “Nimba County”, with “ Mandingoes” practicing the “Islamic religion” on the one hand, while their brothers and sisters from the “Gio and Mano tribes” mainly “Christianized”. This brought about differences in opinion and action. “Mandingoes” in line with “Koranic teaching” started being more extreme in refusing to married their daughters to non-Moslems, while on the other hand the “Mandingoes” married non-Moslems daughters. This was seen as a divisiveness and extreme discrimination” on the part of the “Mandingoes. This issues remains one of the fundamental issues of concerns in “Nimba County”. Disparity in wealth between the “Mandingoes” versus the “Gio and Mano” in Nimba County became another bottlenecks. It must be noted that unlike the two other tribes, the “Mandingoes” are entrepreneurs and became successful in business surpassing their rivals in wealth and development, which led to antagonism. As a result it became cleared that “Mandingoes” were disliked leading to resentment against them. Political non-alignment as a policy was another factor that led to the annihilation of the “Mandingoes” in Nimba County. You will note that in Liberia history, “Mandingoes” have always been law-abiding people, supportive of successive governments leading to the insinuation that they were nominal and subservient. This attribute of extreme submissiveness led to their refusal to join the rebellion against the late “Samuel Doe” by mainly elements from the two rival tribes. It was thought that the “Mandingoes” would have joined them in trying to oust the late President. Refusing to capitulate was considered as a betrayal and connivance with the late President against them, thus, making them enemy punishable by death during the civil crisis. Ellen and others factor: Amidst the formation of the Association of the Constitutional Democracy in Liberia (ACDL), an off shoot of the “NPFL”, by Ellen, Fambullah, Sawyer, Grieves and others with the sole intent of undemocratically ousting the elected government of the late President Doe, it became necessary to find a breeding ground for the mission in order to succeed. Realizing the unpopularity of the regime with the “Nimbians” at the time culminating from the “Quiowonpia fiasco”, it was resolved that the county be used as a staging point with the neutral “Mandingoes” being used as the fishing bit in their military conquest. This ignited the present problem of “Land Conquest” being experienced in Nimba County. Since than, Mandingoes lands were taken forcibly with the hope of having them decimated and never to return. It was agreed that “Mandingoes” properties and land must all be confiscated with alteration of any resemblance that they ever resided in those areas. With the relative peace being enjoyed it was thought that the rival tribes would have seen reasons in ensuring the we arrive at a comprehensive peace through the return of seized properties. Despite strenuous efforts on the parts of the Mandingoes in amicably resolving the issue, it has failed due to the disinclination of the Ellen led government. This is not healthy; especially knowing the unintended consequences if it is not resolve-ensuring equity for the “Mandingoes”. There is the need to go back to pre-war demarcations in resolving the stalemate. In the absence of this, we still have a hanging crisis. Realistic Approach as a Solution: Amidst the unfolding variables that could degenerate in to an all out conflict, it is our ardent appeal that the various stake holders design a strategy as soon as possible in order to address this problem. We are aware that patient is running out on the part of the “Mandingoes” having exhausted all available avenues with out any transparent adjudication of the land cases with the rivals trampling over their rights. Despite much appeal and the constitution of committees and peace delegations, couple with political public utterances, nothing significant has been achieved. How long can our people be denied their basic right? In as much no one wants conflict that could undermine “National Security”, but the elements of conflicts in this case are glaring. We have undergone a protracted conflict leading to destruction an abject poverty with no winner, which should serve as a lesson avoiding any thing that could rekindle the old wound. On the opposite, if the feuding parties should break all norms and start trouble that could translate negatively in other parts of the Country undermining the fragile peace we now enjoy. So let us haul the bull by the horn by telling the aggressors to desist and return the” Mandingoes Land”. Recommendation to “President Sirleaf”: Madam President, your much acclaimed inauguration as the “Leader of Liberia” was embraced by all segment of the population hoping that as a mother you would serve as twin mother in catering to the needs and aspiration of every Liberian, void of religiosity, ethnicity, social status or political affiliation. We are perturbed with your lack of real interest in realistically intervening in unearthing a solution to this nightmare for the “Mandingoes”. Your action doesn’t manifest equity and transparency as enshrines in your campaign and inaugural speech. We are cautiously watching you with a suspicious eye. You need to be pro-active in resolving those issues that are conflict prone, with the issue under discussion being of no exception. While it is true we have been following the constitution of committees in the past to look in to the problem, nevertheless, it is our thought that much needed to be done if the desire result must be achieved. Accordingly, it therefore recommended Madam President, that you now constitute a new committee with a new mandate, a defined term of reference and time duration to complete her work and openly submit her finding with out any prejudice. We recommend that such a committee should constitute the following groups:” the National Muslim Council of Liberia, the Council of Churches, the Interfaith Mediation Committee of Liberia, the Press Union of Liberia, the Bar Association, the University of Liberia Student Union and the Crisis Group on Liberia” playing an advisory role. To the Mandingoes Community: We urge you not to transcend boundaries in lieu of the injustices being meted out against you by your brothers in the Nimba. Remain patient and steadfast as we follow the idealistic trend in trying to resolve this great in difference. It doesn’t pay to resort to any thing that would derail the sacrifices you made in the attainment of peace in Nimba and Liberia as a whole. Expect the next article. We want to hear your critical thought –(215)-666-2506 or Varfley1@yahoo.com |
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