Can we can safely attest that West Africa is home to no rogue states?

“Grand claims are my comfort. West African politics my balm”, is the opener on Africa Flak’s post titled “Peace through Strength: A new path for Guinea?“. Excerpts:

For the first time in recent history, we can safely attest that West Africa is home to no rogue states or outlandish bully governments. Sierra Leone and Liberia have cleaned up their acts and are on the way to becoming functioning countries. For the first time in decades, Togo’s leader, while using extra-constitutional means to ascend the throne, is not a bully. Perhaps related to this is the fact that he doesn’t seem to be a close, personal friend of Jacques Chirac. Things are looking up in Burkina Faso and Benin. Ghana and Mali continue to shine. Not so much for Senegal, but time will tell. Bad perceptions outstrip reality in Nigeria. A question mark, admittedly, always hangs over Niger. I never know how to classify Mauritania. Gambia is also iffy. Guinea-Bissau is on the watch list because of oil and drugs. And finally, even Cote d’Ivoire is on the road to cleaning up its house.

The sole country that bucks my wild claim is Guinea. And what a mess it is.

My two-cents: Cameroon appears to be in this category I think. Paul Biya, the president, has been a ’sit-tight leader’ since 1982…He recorded his silver Jubilee anniversary of “his dynasty” on November 6.

Read the full post on Africa Flak