Frying Pan to Fire?

Another gruelling 12 hour bus trip conveyed me from a calm Djenne to Bamako last night. During the journey two phone calls alerted me to unrest in Bamako. Several demonstrations had taken place, some calling for Diankounda Traoure’s resignation, some apparently on unrelated matters, such as a teacher’s pay dispute, which has been rumbling on for months. I couldn’t help reflecting that this is perhaps not the moment for pay disputes? Not the moment even for complaining about Dionkouda, weak leader though he might be. He will soon be gone. There are larger things afoot, surely? Is this not the moment to present a united front? ‘He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all ranks’, says Sun Tzu. In this case perhaps it must apply to the whole Malian people?