234: end of the line for tyrants?

This opinion piece from the South African news site IOL is interesting (and well written). It notes a promising trend across Africa - of increasing attempts to bring former tyrants to justice for suspected human rights abuses. The article notes a string of trials and even prosecutions, from former Liberian leader Charles Taylor to Jean-Pierre Bemba of the DRC (arrested this week), and the decision by the Ethiopian supreme court to sentence to death the former dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam - the latter in abstentia, since Mengistu was given asylum in Zimbabwe many years ago. The author argues that justice is catching up with tyrannical leaders, and asks what this means for Robert Mugabe, given the mounting evidence of state-sponsored violence and killing under his rule. On that, time will tell. One thing is for sure though - as is evident from today's linked article, a growing number of commentators across Africa are calling tyranny by its name, in Zimbabwe and elsewhere. And a growing number of citizens are courageously standing up to it. A cause for hope - and considerable respect.