Al-Risala (English), January 1988

God will deal with men on the Day of Resurrection as they have dealt with others in the world

1988 1 January 9 God will deal with men on the Day of Resurrection as they have dealt with others in the world (25) The Prophet said: “Whoever protects the honour of his fellow-man, will be protected by God from the fire of hell on the Day of Resurrection.”

Too Late in the Day

1988 1 January 9 Too Late in the Day (319) Born in 1921, Jean Bedal Bokassa rose to the rank of General in the Central African army. Although so high in rank, he felt his ambitions were still not satisfied, and in January 1966, he organised a military coup, overthrew the government of President David Dacko and installed himself, as President of Central Africa. But General Bokassa was not satisfied even with becoming President Bokassa, for he feared losing the presidency in the coming elections, so, in 1976, he dissolved parliament and proclaimed himself Emperor, even going through a coronation ceremony.

All was not plain sailing, however, for Emperor Bokassa had now to grapple with the realities of French economic control. With valuable Central African mines still in its grasp, France perceived a threat to its economic interests under the new regime. With French help, therefore, another military coup was staged in 1980 and Mr. David Dacko was re-installed as the Central African President. Bokassa fled the country, took refuge in France, but returned in October 1986 to Africa where he was arrested upon entering the country. He was thereupon charged with a whole series of crimes including the murder of forty people and the handing out of millions of dollars in bribes from the Government Treasury. Addressing the Criminal Court of Bangui, State Prosecutor Gabriel Mboundou said that in view of the crimes committed by Bokassa during his fourteen years in office, the death penalty was a must. On June 8, 1987, when Bokassa was produced before the court, he made a statement to the effect that he only wanted “to live in peace as a simple citizen.”

Finally, Jean Bedel Bokassa had come to realize, although a little late in the day, that the way to find peace in life is to be satisfied with what one has. An earlier realization of this would have prevented him from falling from his position of honour into total disgrace.