Libyan President and new chairman of the African Union Muammar Gaddafi speaks to the media after the closing ceremony of the 12th African Union summit at the United Nations Headquarters in Addis Ababa February 4, 2009. Photo/REUTERS |
By HENRY OWUOR
Monday, February 09, 2009
For one, Africa finally has a chairman who says that coups are welcome so long as they are staged peacefully.
At the same time, Col Gaddafi says that there is nothing wrong with piracy since it is a way to “correct colonial wrongs.’’
Addressing journalists at the just ended AU summit in Addis Ababa, Col Gaddafi said: “Coups and rebellions are spontaneous events that cannot be controlled. Coups are fine so long as they are staged peacefully.’’
On democracy, he said: “If you want to have political formations, there will be tribal parties. We do not have political structures, our system is social. The system that is being tried in Africa has not been successful.’’
'Democracy cannot work'
Col Gaddafi, who rules under the Jamahiriya “mass-state” system, said the post-election violence in Kenya early last year was a sign that democracy cannot work in Africa.
On Somali gunmen seizing ships and demanding ransoms, he said as he addressed AU staffers: “It is not piracy, it is self defence, and it is defending Somali children’s food. It is a response to greedy Western nations who invade and exploit Somalia’s resources illegally.’’
The signs are that Africa is in for a very tumultuous time under the guardianship of Col Gaddafi. In power since a 1969 coup against Libyan monarchy then led by King Idris I, Gaddafi is currently the fifth longest serving head of state. He is also the longest serving head of government worldwide.
The year 2009 has come with its surprises. For the first time, the former leader of a group listed as terrorist is now a fully recognised under the AU charter as a president. He is none other than Sheikh Sharif Ahmed who had been chairman of Somalia’s Islamic Courts Union in the early stages. The Islamists were chased out of Mogadishu by Ethiopian forces in 2006.
This year, by early July, the continent is to finalise plans for a single government with a president and vice-president and its own ministers covering various portfolios such as education, foreign affairs health and defence.
The other issues being pushed by Africa is the continent’s desire to join the UN Security Council. Africa contends that in 1945 when the UN was being formed, most of Africa was not represented and that when in 1963, the first reform of the UN took place, Africa was represented but was in a particularly weak position.
This is also the year when Africa must decide when it is to hold its “Diaspora Summit’’ more so now that the US now has a president, Mr Barack Obama, who traces his roots to Africa.
The Diaspora summit will bring together delegates from all over the world but, since AU leaders are loathe to the criticism they will face for their failed policies, they have been reluctant to call this meeting.
'Africa Women’s Decade’
At the same time, the AU is preparing for the “Africa Women’s Decade’’ to run from 2010 to 2020 and putting in place its argument against what it calls “abuse of Principles of Universal Jurisdiction,’’ under which Africans have been charged in Europe, among them Rwanda’s Rose Kabuye.
This is the perfect time for Col Gaddafi to take the reins of leadership. He can push his agenda. There are actually very few leaders who can challenge him.
In the past, South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki could challenge Gaddafi at AU meetings but he is no longer in office and his replacement, Kgalema Motlanthe is an acting president who is due to hand over to his mentor Jacob Zuma at elections set for mid this year.
Source: Daily Nation, Feb 09, 2009