Alarming at every hour of the clock, the ticking minutes and seconds of the year 2008, finally landed at the end of the tunnel, marking the closing chapter of the calendar year. No sooner than we may notice, the year 2009 is already in full gears and ready to paddle moments of the 21st century through unknown trajectories.

In view of that, recalling some important political events of 2008 will therefore better prepare us meet challenges of the unknown and unfolding trajectories of the New Year 2009.

January - March 2008

As firework displays lit the skies around the world in celebration of the New Year, Kenya political landscape was marred by bloody confrontations between rival opposition factions that left over 700 – 800 dead, with many thousands displaced. A power sharing deal reached between the opposition and the ruling party propelled Raila Odinga as Kenya’s first Prime Minister.

In the same vein, violence between Chadian rebel forces and government troops forced over 180,000 displaced people to join the already 285, 000 refugees from Sudan and the Central African Republic. A humanitarian force consisting of 3, 7000 troops were finally approved by the European Union to be deployed along Chad’s porous borders.

Whilst dust continued to settle across the volatile and fragile political landscapes of Kenya and Chad, an African Union force of 1,350 troops toppled the renegade leader Mohamed Bacar  in the  breakaway Island of Anjouan, Comoros.

Events in the Balkans also took a turning point during this quarter of the year 2008. The Serbian province of Kosovo declared its independence, contributing to divisions across the political spectrum on whether to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

In another historic occasion, Cuba’s Fidel Castro also announced his resignation ending his 49 years communist rule. His younger and the world’s longest serving minister of Defense, brother Raul Castrol succeeded him as the Island’s new Leader.

In another development, not only did Taiwan’s opposition defeated its ruling party, but events in Pakistan also took a turn of events.  Yousuf Gilliani of the Pakistan People’s Party, late Benazi Bhutto's widower, was sworn in as prime minister leading a coalition with Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League.

On a different token, as an old and helpless father in the tiny West African State of the Gambia continues the search for his son, Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh, a victim of over a two year state enforced detention and disappearance, an Economic Community of West African States Court ruled that Journalist Manneh be produced by the Gambia Government and be compensated $100,000.  US Senator from the state of Illonois, Dick Durbin also raised the case of Journalist Manneh in the power house of the world’s most enduring democracy. 

Political events in Russia also showed the electoral victory of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. He won 70 percent of the vote in a Presidential election widely observed to be flawed

April - June 2008                                                                          

This quarter was indeed a turbulent historic period of the year. Maoist’s rebels won the majority seats in an election that ended one of the world’s longest civil wars. The newly elected government also ended 240 years of monarchy, officially declaring the country a republic. A decisive election victory for Italy’s center-right People of Freedom Coalition showed a comeback for former Prime Minister Berlusconi.   

In Latin America, elections in Paraguay propelled for the first time a Catholic Bishop Fernando Lugo to the office of President, ending the six decade rule of Paraguay’s Conservative Colorado Party.

As the world mourned the death of over 100,000 people in the powerful cyclone that devastated Southern Myanmar, a pro-European Coalition won Serbia’s Presidential race. This was a litmus test for Serbia’s European Union membership.

While xenophobic violence against African migrants displace thousands in South Africa, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake stroke the Sichuan Province in southwestern China, destroying entire towns, killing more than 69,000; injuring up to 380,000 and thousands others missing.

In another turn of events during this quarter, North Korea unveiled information on its nuclear activities as part of the six-party agreement. This was the first important step towards the de-nuclearization of one of the world’s most repressive regimes.

On a different token, a defiant President Robert Mugabe was declared winner of the controversial run-off elections that was boycotted by opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangiri.

July – September 2008

During this quarter, upholding the legacy of the Nuremberg trials after the second world was the most important bold move that shaped our conscience in the 21^st century. This is indeed another historic quarter that triggered a turning tide around the culture of impunity, human rights abuses and upholding democracy.

Following a military coup that toppled the democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdullah’s government, the African Union (AU) suspended Mauritania’s membership from the organization.

The International Criminal Court for the first time was considering to  indicte a sitting head of state for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was accused of direct involvement in the crisis that is ravaging the Sudanese province of Darfur.

A former Bosnian Serb Leader duped as the world’s most notorious fugitives, Radovan Karadzic, was also arrested after 13 years of hiding. He faces charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his brutal role in the siege of Sarajevo and Srebrenica massacre of 1995.

In another interesting turn of events in the miniscule West African State of The Gambia, the United Nations (UN) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) set up a task force to investigate the brutal murder of 55 West African migrants in the Gambia, in 2005. The migrants included 44 Ghanaians, Senegalese and Nigerians.

Shifting gears to Latin America, Ingrid Betancourt, 11 other Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) hostages, and three American military contractors were liberated by Colombian forces in collaboration with US. intelligent agents.

As the United States also signed an agreement with the Czech Republic to host a base for the controversial U.S. missile defense shield, Iran test-fired the Shabab-3 long range missiles that are capable of reaching Israel. This has escalated tensions between Iran and the West over its nuclear ambition. Poland also signed a deal with the United States to station 10 US interceptor missiles on Polish territory as part of the controversial U.S.missile defense project.

The former Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraff tendered his resignation during a turbulent political impasse across Pakistan. His resignation came at a time when Pakistan was deeply divided.

October – December 2008

This is the most decisive and historic quarter of the century. During this quarter three major global events have shaped the parables of global politics, economy and social discourse.

The electoral victory of Senator Barack Obama as the first US African American President has indeed re-written and revived the course of history.  His message of 'change' is shaping history, molding global communities and enlightening civilizations across the globe.

For the first time since the end of the cold war, an assertive Russia, a defiant Iran, a Muzzling China, India and Brazil have set the stage in measuring the global balance of power. Russian nuclear powered warships have begun carrying out military exercises in a region that was once considered America’s backyard.

The tragic bombings of hotels by Islamic militants in Mumbai did not only result to hundreds of deaths, but also shaped the political landscape of South East Asia.  It has also brought to light the dangers of modern times that almost pitted Pakistan and India to the brink of confrontation.

The death of late President Conte of Guinea-Conakry and the subsequent overthrow of his government by a military junta led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara has ended the 24 year old dictatorship in West Africa. In its report titled Dying for Change, Human Rights Watch documented widespread human rights abuses in Guinea as characteristics of Conte's iron rule. Thousands of Guinean citizens took to the streets to welcome change in a country rich in mineral wealth, but yet harbors some of West Africa’s poorest.

As the world gears up for an unknown new year, the noose may however be tightening for the world’s remaining autocrats and dictators. Mounting pressure for the resignation and prosecution of Robert Mugabe has reached higher heights. An Amnesty International report title Fear Rules in the Gambia has also put the government of President Yahya Jammeh under the radar of international spotlight.

Just as we have seen change took shape in Kenya, Paraguay, Nepal, Pakistan, the United States, Italy, Guinea-Conakry and other parts of the world in 2008, so could we see the same change taking shape in Zimbabwe, The Gambia, Burma, North Korea, Iran and other oppressive societies. The year 2009 will tell.