The Arab Spring might have been ‘hi-jacked’

Editor,This is in reference to the editorial, “Fallout from the Arab Spring gains momentum”, of the Sunday Times on July 7.There is an understandable, though completely erroneous, temptation to conflate the Arab Spring (which was a chaotic but essentially peaceful demonstrations against authoritarian regimes) with subsequent armed rebellions militarily, diplomatically, and financially supported by outside powers.In some of the latter instances, home-grown protests, most initially non-violent, were then infiltrated and captured by externally-controlled forces interested in channeling would-be revolutions in preferred directions.In this regard it is a mistake to believe that the powers or external non-state forces that have taken control of the anti-government insurrections in various Arab countries have not considered the possibility of the situation spinning out of control.Rather their interest in getting rid of the regime in power, or having some influence on which party takes over or which party is blocked from doing so is considered more important than the consequences for the locals should the situation spin out of control.The only blow-back that matters is the one that might negatively affect those attempting to take control of the way things develop. Negative effects for the nationals of the country in the frame or of those in the sub-region are merely acceptable collateral damage.Mwene Kalinda, Kigali, Rwanda

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The Arab Spring might have been ‘hi-jacked’