As 2010 came to a close, and 2011 rolled in, there were few hints that it was going to be a year of deep changes. Certainly, 2011 will go down in the history book as the year that saw people-power do the unimaginable in North Africa. Who could have imagined that Hosni Mubarak would be toppled from his Olympian heights, and end up on a stretcher in a cage' Nor could the wildest of imagination have pictured the lion of Libya being hurled through the sand, bloodied and battered, pleading for his life. It was a ghastly end to a man who held a firm grip on power for four decades.It's been a year of global protests; anger and rage at the leaders for the pain and anguish inflicted on ordinary people. Beyond unseating sit-tight rulers, the protests in Europe and America, railed against unemployment, pension, austerity measures, school fees and financial institutions, etc. Some protests avoided outright bloodshed in the bid to change the leadership. For instance, Greece, Italy and Spain experienced political changes through their political institutions. The changes were made possible, through widespread dissatisfaction being expressed on the streets and in the case of Spain, the ballot box. Not even Berclusconi could wriggle around the obvious desire for change. What will be the fate of President Barack Obama' He's already lost ground over domestic issues such as the economy. Jobs are scarce; consumer spending low and the manufacturing base shrinking. A prominent face in one of his key constituencies-Hollywood-on Wednesday, labelled him a 'one-term president'.The financial crisis in Europe left many economies prostrate with the resulting cut backs, hitting hard. Perhaps the chief fall-out of this is the high unemployment rate amongst the youth. Homelessness has also spiralled out of control. The British media report that Britain has never had it so bad. Indeed, high unemployment is widespread across Europe. Ironically, it's still the hotbed for economic migrants. Tunisians have been travelling there in their droves to escape political upheaval. Tunisia that first lit the torch of freedom last January, went to the polls for the first time in decades and has emerged with a democratically-elected leadership. The unemployment and instability its young men fled from, exist in high doses on the not-so-welcoming shores of Europe. Incidentally, xenophobia exists in high doses in Europe too. Europeans are tired of immigrants arriving on their shores and applying for public sector services. Expressions of intolerance flared up in the random killing of two Senegalese vendors in Italy, last week. The Far Right French Presidential candidate,Madame Marine Le Pen, wants immigrants to return to their homelands. She protests that they are taking away jobs and praying on the streets of Paris. The latter, she refers to as an "occupying" of Parisien Streets. Whether the French agree with her stand on immigrants or not, will be revealed in the outcome of next year's presidential elections.The 2011 global protests have undoubtedly ushered in deep changes that will be etched in society for ever. This process of change will be a subject of discourse for years to come. It will serve as rich fodder for books and films. As for sub-Saharan Africa, will there be a build-on of 2011 protests, in the new year. Africa needs changes. But whether these changes will come through blood, sweat and tears or through the humble but potent ballot box remains to be seen. Political analysts argue that it's not likely the ballot box will bring about peaceful change for the long-term rulers. This class of leaders always find a means of entrenching their positions. African leaders are very creative and innovative at prolonging their stay in office. Ironically, such creativity is not applied to making changes in the lives of the governed; poverty, hunger and disease, persist as good governance takes a back seat. Will 2012 see a change of the old guards in Zimbabwe, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso' Will the wind of people-power blowing from North Africa, find a fertile ground deep inside the rest of the Continent' Looking forward to 2011.Text only to: 07086279194
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