USA Africa Dialogue Series - Where are African scholars on this?

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From: 
To: Chambi Chachage <chambi78@yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2015 12:01 PM
Subject: Where are African, and indeed Tanzanian. scholars on this?

Zanzibar Scholars's Statement of Concern (31 October 2015)

We, as concerned scholars of Zanzibar, write to express our dismay at recent events following the elections of 25 October 2015.

We continue to be deeply thankful for the repeated opportunities afforded us by the Government of Zanzibar to study, document, and try to understand the lives of Zanzibaris - their complexity and inventiveness, their countless achievements, and the challenges they face.

Our work - our research, writing, and analyses of history,culture, geography and language - has given us a firm appreciation for the people of Zanzibar. Treating us with enormous generosity and patience, they have repeatedly taught us the value of community, hospitality, and perseverance.

In our many combined years of listening to and learning from Zanzibaris about so many aspects of their lives, we have consistently been struck by their decency, kindness, and their remarkable ability to meet adversity with grace and good humor.Todaywe extend our deepest gratitude to them. And we beseech the Governments of Zanzibar and of the United Republic of Tanzaniato honor their commitment to multi-party democracy and to keep all of their citizens well and free from harm.

We present this statement in the hope that both the Government of Zanzibar and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzaniawill reassert their belief in democracy's core values; that they will resolve this crisis with wisdom and humility; and that security organs will exercise restraint and good judgment, prioritizing at all times the safety, dignity and rights of the people with whose protection they are charged.

Nathalie Arnold Koenings (Hampshire College, USA)
Marie-Aude Fouéré (École des Hautes Études, France)
Grete Benjaminsen (Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway)
Ann Biersteker (Michigan State University, USA)
William Bissell (Lafayette College, USA)
Katrina Daly Thompson (University of Wisconsin Madison, USA)
Annmarie Drury (Queens College, USA)
Jonathon P. Glassman (Northwestern University, USA)
Marla L. Jaksch (The College of New Jersey, USA)
Arielle Levine (University of California Berkeley, USA)
Elisabeth McMahon (Tulane University, USA)
Erin Stiles (University of Nevada, USA)
Kjetil Tronvoll (Intl. Law & Policy Inst., Norway)