1. Posted on Tuesday 1 April 2008 - 13:10

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   AfricaNews editor

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   Olivier Nyirubugara, AfricaNews

   The six convicts of the Zoa Ark saga were released on Monday after Chad president Idriss Deby pardoned them. While the families and lawyers of the convicts jubilated in Western media, no word has been heard from Ndjamena. What do you think about this?

   

   The sage began in December 2007 with the so-called philanthropic organisation Zoa Ark trying to get 103 children out of Chad to adoptive families in France. The operation aborted when the kids were about to board the plane, prompting indignation from all over Africa, especially in Chad.
   
   Qualified as child traders, the Zoa Ark people were convicted and sentenced to 8 years of hard labour. They were then flown to France where the sentence was then turned into 8 year imprisonment that was cancelled by the Monday presidential pardon  decree. The question now is to know what motivated Deby to finally grant this pardon only months after the rebels nearly captured him.
   
   Questions:

   • Is Deby paying back for the French military support during the attack?
   • Is Deby not alienating his own people who had admired his initial firmness?
   • Is this whole sage not illustrating another form of neo-colonialism?
   • Is a similar scenario thinkable when the are victims and the culprit Africans?
     

   Send us your opinion and reaction at the bottom of this page
   
   
   See previous discussions
   

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Reactions

1. Posted on Tuesday 01 April 2008 16:23

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   AfricaNews editor

   

   
   4,094 berichten
   Lid sinds July 2007

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   From TA, Arusha, Tanzania: I think the issue has become more political than judicial since the time French troops rescued President Deby who was about to be removed from office by the rebels.

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2. Posted on Tuesday 01 April 2008 16:40

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   AfricaNews editor

   

   
   4,094 berichten
   Lid sinds July 2007

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   Jonathan Gandari, Grahamstown, SA - This presidential pardon is so wrong.

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3. Posted on Tuesday 01 April 2008 17:34

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   Ayo

   

   Ayo Ajayi
   38 berichten
   Lid sinds August 2007
   Lagos, Nigeria

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   this is obvious that the president is just paying back for the French military support at the detriment of his people. it's another way African leaders disappoint their people. it's annoying.

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4. Posted on Wednesday 02 April 2008 11:04

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   Nxumalo

   

   Frank Nxumalo
   6 berichten
   Lid sinds March 2008
   Johannesburg, South Africa

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   Frank Nxumalo, Johannesburg, South Africa - It is obvious that by this action President Debby is generously repaying the French for their military support during the rebel crisis. Not only does this unfortunate action deny justice to the children concerned, their families and relatives, what is extremely sad is the brutal insight that it gives us into the thinking of African elites: they will not think twice about putting their interests above those of country when push comes to shove.

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5. Posted on Wednesday 02 April 2008 11:07

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   AfricaNews editor

   

   
   4,094 berichten
   Lid sinds July 2007

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   Elisabeth Benkam, Yaounde, Cameroon - I believe that the affair of the Zoa Ark was more handled under the political angle than judicial; Idriss Déby was in a position of weakness and could only give in front of the pressure of France because he wanted to keep the presidency. As what Africa is always going to undergo the law of Europe especially for our Africans presidents who don’t want to live the power.
   
   We know that the members of the Zoa Ark are all guilty and deserve the prison, and if they are free some months only after their detention prove that the justice does not exist in Africa

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6. Posted on Wednesday 02 April 2008 11:15

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   John M

   

   John Mahoro
   54 berichten
   Lid sinds July 2007

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   One very important element in the puzzle is that the French are the president makers in Chad and many other African countries. President Sarkozy publicly swore in December that he would take the French citizens from Chadian jails, whatever they might have done. This in itself is scandalous. The Chadian Justice minister made some nationalistic noise at that time but his president must have reminded him that he had chased Hussein Habre with the French military help. The same French also maintained him on power early this year when the rebels were at the doors of his palace! Moreover, they maintain a 2,000 man force in the country with the latest air fighters. I wonder if Deby had any choice! Let's say that the only choice was to oppose France and leave power -because France would then support rebels and chase Deby just like his predecessor - and to stay in power by pleasing and flattering the president-making power. You never cut the branch you sit on!

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   Et in terra pax hominubus...

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