'We stayed, you didn't': Post-conflict Africa grapples with tensions of returnees from the diaspora

[jMali]

Kuna watu walibisha kuwa Prof Silas Lwakabamba hana asili ya Rwanda, kwamba uteuzi wake ulikuwa purely kutokana na uchapakazi wake na sio kabila lake. Gazeti la Onyango-obbo (lenye uhusiano mzuri na Rwanda) limetoboa:

Angalau kamjadala haka kafungwe conclusively sasa. The guy "returned home" sio vinginevyo.

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SOMALIA'S parliament just approved a new parliament, a crucial step on the road to voting on a new constitution and presidential elections scheduled for 2016.

A key role of the new cabinet will be keeping the Somali remittances lifeline flowing, as California-based Merchant Bank , one of the USA's few banks still providing services to money transfer companies has said it would stop transacting with remittance companies, which cannot legally expatriate funds on a large scale without the assistance of a commercial bank.

The decision comes as tough new anti-money laundering legislation in the US makes banks legally responsible for money laundering activities enabled by its services, even if the bank has no complicity in or knowledge of those activities.

Last year, a similar crackdown in the UK had 250 money transfer companies put on notice by Barclays, the only major UK bank handling international money transfers. The companies had to find alternative banking arrangements.

Somalia's lack of a formal banking system and functional government makes it especially dependent on remittances, but even in the rest of Africa, money sent from abroad is an important source of financing.

Data from African Economic Outlook indicates that in 2014, remittances to Africa amounted to $67 billion, larger than official development aid to the continent at $55 billlion, and only marginally smaller than foreign direct investment, which was $80 billion.

Returning to public service

Although the importance to Africa's diaspora is largely discussed around its financial muscle, many Africans are doing more than just sending money – they are coming back to join the public service.

Educated Africans coming back from abroad make up a significant part of government positions in post-conflict African societies, including Somalia, Rwanda, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

It's a matter of necessity for these countries – educated, successful people are among the first to leave when war breaks out, and when conflict devastates the nation, their technical expertise is needed in reconstruction.

In the previous Somali cabinet, ten out of 29 ministers were returnees, along with 30 of the 82-member House of Representatives.

In Rwanda, foreign affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo emigrated to the US in 1986 and worked as a public relations consultant before returning to Rwanda and being appointed to the cabinet; finance minister Claver Gatete worked in Canada as an economist between 1991 and 1997, and education minister Silas Lwakabamba was born and educated in Tanzania, before returning to Rwanda and becoming founding rector of Kigali Institute of Science and Technology.

In Liberia, minister of finance Amara M. Konneh left Liberia in 1993 for the US, where he would spend more than a decade, earning degrees in economics, finance and IT from University of Pennsylvannia and Harvard University along the way.

He returned in 2005 and was one of the key architects of Liberia's economic recovery strategy as minister for planning and economic affairs, and helped secure the cancellation of Liberia's $4.6billion international debt.

Similarly, minister of education Etmonia D. Tarpeh has extensive international experience in the US, Philippines, Cameroon and Senegal, and has graduate degrees in education and school administration.

Not always welcome

But the technocrat returnees are not always welcomed with open arms.

Post-conflict societies have to grapple with the tensions between those who stayed and suffered first-hand during the war, and so feel that they "own" the victory more than those who were abroad and relatively insulated when it all happened.

South Africa during Nelson Mandela's presidency wrestled with this question, and has not completely resolved the friction. Uganda, in the early years of President Yoweri Museveni's government, also had to handle the rivalry between the two groups.

One recent article from Liberia complained that with the high representation of "returnees" in President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's cabinet, the administration seems to have done "more to enrich members of the diaspora than it has done to improve the quality of life for ordinary Liberians," considering the high educational requirements set for who can work in government, that would be unavailable for ordinary Liberians [who stayed].

In some instances, "diasporeans" tend to have more moderate and reconciliatory positions, whereas those who remained and lived through the trauma of war are likely to be more hardline.

But the reverse can also be true. By leaving the country, hard-liners in the diaspora may instead cling to their extreme positions, because the distance gives them a sense of immunity, and insulates them from the changing realities on the ground.

In February 2012, when Chatham House hosted a consultation between members of the UK-based Somali diaspora and British government officials to discuss the political transition in Somalia, the participants noted that the Somali diaspora were greatly involved in supporting their country but cautioned that not all of the diaspora had relinquished their tribal or clan-based interests.

In fact, some members of the diaspora were "perceived as opportunistic as they donated funds to faction leaders and militia groups in order to buy themselves favours in the hope that they might obtain positions in a future Somali government when the faction leader that they support becomes president or a minister."

Joining the bandwagon

But even countries without a history of protracted war are starting to coordinate their diaspora resources more effectively, so that they are not just a source of development finance, but also development partners.

Last month, Kenya published its official Diaspora Policy, which among other things, seeks to "harness and maximize the potential of Kenyans abroad to contribute to Kenya's transformation agenda."

Nigeria established the Nigerians in the Diaspora Organization (NIDO) and provides office space within its embassy in Washington D.C. for coordination, but the organisation manages its own affairs, including election of executive and board members.

In Ghana, the government tasked the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations with responsibilities for improving links with the diaspora. The ministry manages the Non-Resident Ghanaian Secretariat (NRG), which is to serve as a point of contact and facilitation of services to the diaspora.

http://goo.gl/NOHknW

cc: murutongore MUKAMASIMBA Ngongo BulldogJustDoItNowNiwemugizi

 

[Talkandtalk]

jMali

Very good example of how you analyse topics, yaani i can`t understand ukoje.

Atleast from what you quoted neno 'Home' umeliweka wewe.

How many times have you been going and returning to Rwanda? unamjua ndugu yake hata mmoja aliyeko Rwanda?

Rwanda Revenue wakati inaanzishwa iliiongozwa na raia wa Ghana, RDB iliongozwa na mzungu National University of Rwanda (Huye Campus) iliwahi kuongozwa na mzungu kwanini unakuwa na bias kwa Silas Lwakabamba...utakufa kwa ukabila.

Origin ya Lwakabamba inajulikana, labda kama Wahaya wote ni WanyaRwanda then hapo nitakubali.

Hhha!so Onyango Obo amefunga mjadala ok Mr.JeanMarie

 

[jMali]

Talkandtalk

Mzee mbona mapovu mengi, sio mimi niliyeandika kuwa "Lwakabamba returned to rwanda" ni hilo gazeti la Onyango-obbo. Bishana nalo hilo sio mimi! Hata aliyesoma kayumba anajua kuwa mtu anaye-return to a place, ni yule ambaye origin yake ni hapo hapo.

Huwezi ku-return sehemu ambayo hukuwapo. Sasa kama Lwakabamba ni mhaya wa tanzania kwa nini isiandikwe "he moved to " badala yake iandikwe "return"? mbona kingereza simple sana.

Halafu nimekupeni link hapo, go and read the entire article. If you do you'll realize the entire article is about Rwandese diaspora.

Hivyo unapoteza muda kubishana na hiyo quotation ukidhani jmali kakosea kutafsiri.

 

[Crocodiletooth]

you'll came to knew very later ! too late

 

[JustDoItNow]

jMali

Mkuu, wapigilie msumali hivyo hivyo kabla hatujatia timu kuleta demokrasia ya kweli huko kigali.....LOL

Mwaka huu lazima tumtoe huyo kagame na tusimamie uchaguzi wa kidemokrasia.

Chezea TZ wewe?

 

[Talkandtalk]

hebu onyesha thread moja tu ambayo mods wamefanya hivyo ulivyosema ili kuwathibitishia watanzania kuwa jmali ni muongo. Threads zangu zote ziko hapa hapa JF so its very easy, just a link. Vinginevyo ukishindwa wewe ndio utakuwa kituko and i want to attribute tabia hiyo ya uongo to your tribe (tutsi-extremists) kama ilivyoelezwa na kina Hutu power commandments! Please prove hassan ngeze wrong, just one example please!

Haa!are you saying that was your original heading? nani kaondo Lwakambamba kwenye heading ...anyway ushajulikana.

I know that`s why you are always furious, manake we fought and DEFEATED your ten commandments;
Just kwa wasioelewa hizi ndio commandments mlizoweka, na sasa unajaribu juu chini kujaribu kuingiza hizi fikra kwa wale wasio jua.
You have failed for that and this will never happen, that was the time and not to day or tomorrow!

Chini ni baadhi tu of what you are advocating for🙁Hutu ten commandments)

5. Strategic positions such as politics, administration, economics, the military and security must be restricted to the Hutu.​

6. A Hutu majority must prevail throughout the educational system (pupils, scholars, teachers).​

7. The Rwandan Army must be exclusively Hutu. The war of October 1990 has taught us that. No soldier may marry a Tutsi woman.​

8. Hutu must stop taking pity on the Tutsi.​

 

[mchambawima1]

tobaa!!! ariko jMali ntasoni? urwango ruzakugeza he koko? iptuuu, uraga... unajuwa zamani mi nilikuwa nafikiri we ni mtoto tu wa liinterahamwe fulani lakini siku zinapozidi kwenda mbele ndipo nnazidi kuwa convinced ya kwamba ww ni something bigger than that, acha kutuaibisha na chuki ya kiasi hicho kwa ukweli wastaarabu wakitanzania waliokupa hifadhi kwa vyovyote vile watakuwa wameshangazwa na kiasi cha chuki na ukabila ulionao... Duh!
Murutongore ulikuwa unataka kumpa kazi bure eti athibitishe uinterahamwe wako na kabla ya kwenda mbali mods wakakutenda tena, get a life jMali.

 

[Talkandtalk]

jMali

Mkuu, wapigilie msumali hivyo hivyo kabla hatujatia timu kuleta demokrasia ya kweli huko kigali.....LOL

Mwaka huu lazima tumtoe huyo kagame na tusimamie uchaguzi wa kidemokrasia.

Chezea TZ wewe?

Justdoit, when are you going to do it, miaka inapita tu hhhaa..
Unataka kuja kusimamia demokrasia kalibu sana dogo..

 

[jMali]

Haa!are you saying that was your original heading? nani kaondo Lwakambamba kwenye heading ...anyway ushajulikana.

I know that`s why you are always furious, manake we fought and DEFEATED your ten commandments;
Just kwa wasioelewa hizi ndio commandments mlizoweka, na sasa unajaribu juu chini kujaribu kuingiza hizi fikra kwa wale wasio jua.
You have failed for that and this will never happen, that was the time and not to day or tomorrow!

Chini ni baadhi tu of what you are advocating for🙁Hutu ten commandments)

5. Strategic positions such as politics, administration, economics, the military and security must be restricted to the Hutu.​

6. A Hutu majority must prevail throughout the educational system (pupils, scholars, teachers).​

7. The Rwandan Army must be exclusively Hutu. The war of October 1990 has taught us that. No soldier may marry a Tutsi woman.​

8. Hutu must stop taking pity on the Tutsi.​

1. issue ya kubadili heading na kuweka habari kwa kirefu haina maana ya kwamba aliyeileta ni muongo, afterall nani kaweka source kama sio mimi mwenyewe?
2. Hutu commandments ulizoziweka hapo kwa nini usiziweke zote? umeacha kwa makusudi ile ya jinsi ndugu zenu wahutu wanavyowaita waongo msioaminika why? kwa nini uanzie namba 5 na sio moja?

 

[JustDoItNow]

Justdoit, when are you going to do it, miaka inapita tu hhhaa..
Unataka kuja kusimamia demokrasia kalibu sana dogo..

Yes, Hata Idd amini alikuwa na jeuri kama kagame hivyo hivyo.

 

[JustDoItNow]

tobaa!!! ariko jMali ntasoni? urwango ruzakugeza he koko? iptuuu, uraga... unajuwa zamani mi nilikuwa nafikiri we ni mtoto tu wa liinterahamwe fulani lakini siku zinapozidi kwenda mbele ndipo nnazidi kuwa convinced ya kwamba ww ni something bigger than that, acha kutuaibisha na chuki ya kiasi hicho kwa ukweli wastaarabu wakitanzania waliokupa hifadhi kwa vyovyote vile watakuwa wameshangazwa na kiasi cha chuki na ukabila ulionao... Duh!
Murutongore ulikuwa unataka kumpa kazi bure eti athibitishe uinterahamwe wako na kabla ya kwenda mbali mods wakakutenda tena, get a life jMali.

Ahahahha, mzee wa sumu umechanganyikiwa? unaongea lugha gani hiyo? ndo kitusi chenyewe nini?

 

[murutongore]

Kuna watu walibisha kuwa Prof Silas Lwakabamba hana asili ya Rwanda, kwamba uteuzi wake ulikuwa purely kutokana na uchapakazi wake na sio kabila lake. Gazeti la Onyango-obbo (lenye uhusiano mzuri na Rwanda) limetoboa:

Angalau kamjadala haka kafungwe conclusively sasa. The guy "returned home" sio vinginevyo.



'We stayed, you didn't': Post-conflict Africa grapples with tensions of returnees from the diaspora | Mail & Guardian Africa

cc: murutongore MUKAMASIMBA Ngongo BulldogJustDoItNowNiwemugizi

hahahaa....umeona eeh? just what i was talking about. now i hope you will shut you mouth when we tell you you are dellusional.

 

[jMali]

hahahaa....umeona eeh? just what i was talking about. now i hope you will shut you mouth when we tell you you are dellusional.

imebidi tu ni-like maana nakushangaa.

 

[mng'ato]

jMali

Mkuu, wapigilie msumali hivyo hivyo kabla hatujatia timu kuleta demokrasia ya kweli huko kigali.....LOL

Mwaka huu lazima tumtoe huyo kagame na tusimamie uchaguzi wa kidemokrasia.

Chezea TZ wewe?

Hahaha kama vile jeshi la congo linavoendelea kuwafurusha nyie (fdlr) mkapractise hio demokrasia porini zaid, hahah

 

[mng'ato]

tobaa!!! ariko jMali ntasoni? urwango ruzakugeza he koko? iptuuu, uraga... unajuwa zamani mi nilikuwa nafikiri we ni mtoto tu wa liinterahamwe fulani lakini siku zinapozidi kwenda mbele ndipo nnazidi kuwa convinced ya kwamba ww ni something bigger than that, acha kutuaibisha na chuki ya kiasi hicho kwa ukweli wastaarabu wakitanzania waliokupa hifadhi kwa vyovyote vile watakuwa wameshangazwa na kiasi cha chuki na ukabila ulionao... Duh!
Murutongore ulikuwa unataka kumpa kazi bure eti athibitishe uinterahamwe wako na kabla ya kwenda mbali mods wakakutenda tena, get a life jMali.

Siku hizi hataki kukujibu kwa kilugha chenu zamani mzuka ulikuwa ukimpanda anakujibu kwa lugha ya kabila lenu, haha