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Can Kofi Save Kenya?

Posted on February 9, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, Kenya |

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Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been in Kenya for several weeks in an attempt to broker a peace agreement between the government and the opposition party - the source of the violence that has now killed over 1,000 people and threatened to destabilize one of Africa’s more stable nations. Annan is in search of a political solution to the bloodshed, now in its 6th week.

According to the New York Times, “A person close to the political negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said Friday evening that the two sides were close to a deal. The opposition has agreed to recognize Mr. Kibaki as the president and drop its demand for a new election, the person said, and the president’s negotiators have reciprocated by talking of a broad-based government.”

If this is in fact true, it would represent a major step forward.  Since the contested election, Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, has demanded new elections be held after various sources claimed the election was rigged in favor of President Mwai Kibaki.  Even if Kibaki and Odinga agree to form a new government, it still needs to be sold to the people of Kenya.  The violence of the past 6 weeks has brought to the surface the strife that exists between the various ethnicities within Kenya.  Ending the hostilities may prove just as difficult as securing a political solution to the election crisis.

As the UN point person in Kenya, it rests with Annan to get both sides to agree on a truce, and then to help convince Kenyan’s that the time for violence has past.  With little help from the international community, the burden of peace rests with Annan, who if he can succeed, will add greatly to his legacy.  If he  is in fact successful, Annan should be considered for a 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.  While most leaders are paying little attention to Kenya, Annan is trying to save this country from falling into an abyss.

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