Towards adequate defence of human rights in Africa

Among the decisions taken by African Heads of State during their Summit Meeting in Mon­ rovia in July, 1979, the decision to create an African Human Rights defence mechanism was very significant. African Heads of State spoke out in unison and expressed concern over vio­ lations of human rights and stated that these have become a disturbing feature in the continent. Although diplomatic etiquette did not permit name calling, it was obvious that they clearly had in mind Equatorial Guinea und er the late Marcias Nguema, Uganda, under Amin and the defunct Central African Empire under J ean Bokassa. Although violations of human rights are not entirely new in Africa, it is remarkable that concern was recently demonstrated by African leaders in a collective manner. This seemed to suggest that the problem had reached intolerable proportions . The collective response also indicates that there is better in­ formation about events in African states which helps to ignite popular outrage against viola­ tions of human rights . It is perhaps pertinent to illustrate cases of violations of human rights in some African coun­ tries . When the first president of Algeria, Ahmed Ben Bella, was over-thrown in the early 60's in a coup d'etat, the new Government headed by late Houary Boumediene, kept Ben Bella in prison custody, without due process of trial, for over a decade. Secondly, Nigerian labourers who worked in the plantations of Equatorial Guinea, were subjected to forced labour and inhuman treatment by the regime of the late President of Equatorial Guinea, Marcias Nguema. Labourers who wished to leave the farms were held against their wish. This violates the right of freedom of movement. The Nigerian Government had to repatriate them in 1 975. Thirdly, the Ethiopian military operation in Eritrea, has forced some Eritrean nationals into exile, while others have fled to neighbouring countries, where they live as re­ fugees . Fourthly, the recent troubles in Chad between the various factions precipated a situa­ tion, in which people were arbitrarily arrested and detained. The subject of respect of human rights has gained unprecedented popularity in the last ten years in the whole world . This is partly because of the success of the process of decolonisa­ ti on and the struggle against colonialism, racism and injustice on a world-wide scale. Also more information is now available on disrespect for human rights in most undemocratic states . Contemporary history is full of the horrors of facism, apartheid, colonialism and ra­ cial discrimination.