Following the Guinea-Bissau coup that left former Nigerian president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan stranded along with other observers, one comment stood out: “Good for him! Elections have become a joke in Africa.”
The sentiment applauds a leader being caught in a crisis unrelated to personal fault. This is a troubling trend—cheering misfortune because someone holds a political title reflects schadenfreude rather than critique. Elections may have flaws, but wishing harm or disruption on those involved in observing them normalizes political hostility, not accountability.
Criticism of governance, electoral integrity, and leadership is important. But targeting individuals stranded by events they cannot control turns constructive discourse into public cruelty.
The real red flag? Mistaking misfortune for justice. Democracy and civic critique should challenge systems, not celebrate the suffering of people who are doing their jobs.
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