Original version

BBC World Service Online

From Our Own Correspondent

News

Insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers.

Insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers from around the world.

From Our Own Correspondent: Zambia and Libya

Zambia and Libya

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Zambia and Libya

Owen Bennett Jones has despatches from Fergal Keane in Zambia and Saleyha Ahsan in Libya.

Fergal Keane reflects on what political role whites may still have to play in Africa and Saleyha Ahsan reports on the medical care given to Libya's war wounded.

Owen Bennett Jones introduces personal stories, wit and insight from correspondents around the world. 

In this edition, Fergal Keane reflects on what political role whites may still have to play in Africa and Saleyha Ahsan reports on the medical care given to Libya's war wounded.

An unlikely arc of history

Many people tend to allow their politics to be a function of their identity. - whether that be defined in terms of class, ethnicity, religion or language. 

Some, though, do try to break out of those constraints, slip the bounds of their historical ties, and reach out to others. 

More often than not, their reward is to be ostracized. 

But just occasionally their tolerance and open-mindedness is rewarded with worldly success. 

The situation of white Africans - or even white immigrants to Africa - who've got stuck into the political arena is one such example. 

After Zambia appointed a white man to its vice presidency, Fergal Keane wondered whether the future might offer further reverses.

Wounded bodies, injured pride, hurt feelings

Military commanders sometimes talk about a covenant.

The idea is that if you want to get someone to fight, you have to strike a reciprocal deal. 

A soldier needs to be sure that if he dies his body will be repatriated and his family looked after; or that if he is injured, everything possible will be done to get him away from the battlefield to help him recover. 

It is really the least a soldier can expect. 

But in Libya some young men who fought against Colonel Gadhafi say that covenant has been broken. 

Saleyha Ahsan has been hearing their complaints. 

She is a British Muslim and used to be an Army medic;  and she has been seeing up close the treatment being offered to Libya’s now-victorious fighters.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

From Our Own Correspondent

Zambia and Libya

Genres

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service