To understand a man, look at his doctrine.
During his term as Chairman of the African Union, Gaddafi said he will try and expedite the creation of a single African Government initially through the scrapping of visas so as to facilitate free movement of people and goods, and through the establishment of a single currency for the continent.
This was to be followed by the creation of a continental Trade Ministry, Finance Ministry and Defence/Security Ministry. That vision was based on the assumption that he would be the leader of the African continent. Gaddafi’s popularity soared at the beginning of his term as Chairman. He was regarded as a great man primarily for his defiance towards American imperialism. On his tour of African nations, the streets were swamped by the young and old, all trying to catch a glimpse of the ‘great man’ and his female bodyguards.
Before flying to the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the organisation’s 10th ordinary session, Libya’s ‘great leader’ unloaded jabs at African leaders for what he pointed out as their sluggish approach towards a union government. He even threatened to take his attention and investment away from Africa and direct it to the Arab world and Mediterranean areas. His proposal on the United States of Africa faced serious challenge in the last AU summit in Ghana where it was decided that the issue be considered first by a working group. The report of the committee is expected to be discussed in Addis Ababa. His public threat and denouncement comes as a last-ditch attempt to influence this deliberation.
Gaddafi’s eccentricities from the AU high table are often predictable and easy to understand. Ever since he captured power in the 1969 revolution, Mr. Gaddafi has tipped toed countless contradictions. Traversing a complex jigsaw of ‘isms’, Libya’s long serving leader keeps on writing a messy script on leadership and diplomacy. During his revolutionary periods, Gaddafi’s inspiration was not drawn from the panafricanism of Nkrumha but from the Arab nationalism of Gamal Abdel Nasser. In 1972, he set out to establish the Federation of Arab Republic. His new-found zeal for pan-Africanism emerged during his isolationism by the West during which he deftly developed his connection with Africa as a secure arena of recognition and influence. African Union’s meetings proffered platforms where he felt great, acceptable and sometimes mainstream.
But his thinking on a swift creation of union government is unrealistic. Few countries in African even conduct proper trade among themselves. There are still divergent political visions and orientations among the 53 states. Against all the denials, the linguistic split between the Anglophone and Francophone is still significant. Moreover, the manner in which Gaddafi delivers his message has been notably divisive. Gaddafi and his envoys are apathetic to the way the union is organised. Neither are they interested in reasoned debate and discussions. They rather chose to buy support from weak and small African countries. Numerous countries such as Guinea, Togo, Borkinafaso, Mali etc have benefited from Gaddafi’s financial largess. Prior to the Addis Ababa submit, Gaddafi hosted a congregation of African government to draw them to his program.
The thousands of young boys from Conakry to Freetown who flock to see him during some of his now common visits do so not for his uplifting pan-Africanist vision or mission but by a sheer bewilderment of a filthy rich Arab leader who often literally litters them with payouts while passing
through their streets with his camel entourage and women bodyguards. Unlike the countries of the first generation of pan-Africanist leaders, Libya is not a great host for African countries. Even while Gaddafi is engaged in the high talk about Africa, thousands of Africans are forcefully expelled from Libya. Many fear that, if Gaddafi is allowed to have his way with his outlandish views, the Union’s credibility will be seriously impugned.
Despite spending huge sums of money buying votes Gaddafi failed in his bid to stay on as president of the African Union for a second year. While handing over power to Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika, an acrimonious Gaddafi later said, after all, it was an empty chair with mere symbolic powers since many declarations and decisions were made without his consent.
Reports indicated that he struggled hard to retain the rotating chair, which dragged a preliminary Saturday meeting into the late hours of the night.
The Libyan leader also used his farewell speech to accuse the African Union of wasting time while failing to meet global challenges.
He again urged the African leaders to begin the process of political unification, which was a large part of his agenda.
"It was like we were building a new atomic bomb or something," he said, referring to meetings that had lasted long into the night and that he characterised as "really useless".
"The world’s engine is turning into seven or ten countries and we are not aware of that," Gaddafi said, dressed in a white robe and black fur hat.
"The EU is becoming one country and we are not aware of it. We have to get united to be united. Let’s be united today."
Gaddafi, supported by leaders like Senegal’s Abdoulaye Wade, has been pushing for an African unity government for years, saying it is the only way Africa can develop without Western interference.
But members, led by South Africa and Ethiopia, argue the plan is impractical and would infringe on sovereignty.
After the opening speeches, there were murmurs of confusion when Gaddafi invited representatives of African kings and traditional leaders to speak.
They were not on the agenda and they surprised both security and heads of state as they walked in behind Gaddafi with their flowing robes, animal skins and staffs embroidered in gold.
No sitting provisions had been made for them by the organisers, which prompted them to hijack seats marked "First Ladies".
The leader of the delegation, Tchiffi Zif Gervais from Ivory Coast, told the heads of state that the forum of kings, sultans and traditional leaders that was established by their leader and "king of kings" Gaddafi was to unite and serve the African people.
"It is a privilege for you to have us here. I would like to thank the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, who met us and is now our honorary member. He has also agreed to write a dictionary in his local language and to help African traditional leaders."
He said their role was not to engage in politics. "Ours is not a political tool. Our role is to give support and stability, a tool for social cohesion that has already mediated in some conflicts on the continent like Guinea."
He blamed the leaders for Africa’s poverty that has persisted half a century after independence, saying there is need to forge a united front with traditional leaders to address the imbalance of trade.
"Africa must develop on the basis of its own culture. Some heads of state had not understood what our role was but our king of kings took the decision and arranged for us to meet some leaders," he said.
Gaddafi stressed that there was no conflict between the role of traditional leaders and politicians, saying even Museveni has understood that after he met them.
So, an egotistical man who fancies himself as president for life is unceremoniously dumped. Talk about Hope and Change! He is the one we’ve been waiting for. Having created many enemies and with time running out (age), Gaddafi badly needed a new plan to be “KING”. This gave birth to talks of a Mediterranean Union.
EU countries such as Italy, Spain and France have been actively grooming Libya to be a buffer zone against Africa’s illegal immigration. Thus Gaddafi’s new vision of ‘great Mediterranean union’, for all that is worth, is a buzz concept created in France’s Minstere des Affaires etrageres not in Sirte. For sometime to come, however, we have to get used to ‘the great leader’ who enjoys seeing African leaders in the opposite side of the isle.
Since his eviction from the AU seat, Gaddafi has gone on a verbal assault of Africa/Africans (Assuming he is an Arab that is). The following are excerpts from his speech in Italy in a bid to get €5billion from EU countries to fight illegal migration from Africa through Libya. The once King of Kings of Africa had this to say….
August 31 2010
Europe…"tomorrow, with the advance of millions of immigrants, could become (another) Africa,"
Libya "is the entry door for unwanted immigration" which should be "stopped at the Libyan borders," he went on.
"Tomorrow Europe might no longer be European and even black as there are millions (of Africans) who want to come in," Gaddafi argued, describing the migratory movements as "something very dangerous".
We don’t know what will happen, what will be the reaction of the white and Christian Europeans faced with this influx of starving and ignorant Africans
"We don’t know if Europe will remain an advanced and united continent or if it will be destroyed as happened with the barbarian invasions."
“There is also desirable immigration. There are Libyans who have money and I encourage them to come to Italy to invest."
Gaddafi had said at a gathering of about 500 girls who were paid to about $100 each to attend that "women are more respected in Libya than in the West" and offered assistance in finding Libyan husbands.
What are we to make of Muammar al-Gaddafi?
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