AND, GADDAFI SHIFTED

And Gaddafi Shifted

Asare Otchere-Darko , 04/07/2007 - The Statesman

It was billed as a grand debate between the Instantists (Radicals) and the Gradualists over what kind of Union Government Africa must have. The radicals, led by Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi of Libya and Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, amplified the rhetoric of Union Government now!

The Gradualists, led by Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and, though with the subtlety expected from the chair, Ghana’s John Agyekum Kufuor, were calling for a gradual approach but within the shortest practicable time.

In the end, Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia articulated the very point of view of the Gradualists, only giving it a new name: Practicalist.

Making his 25-minute erudite submission Monday, he urged African leaders to tone down on the rhetoric and concentrate more on strengthening the institutions of integration, such as the AU Commission.

Yesterday, the Libyan leader did just that but with a well-researched presentation, illustrated with the support of Power Point.

He surprised everyone, including the other radical states, like Guinea, Benin and Senegal, by calling for the institutions necessary for a united Africa to be strengthened.

But, Gaddafi could not resist a poke in the ribs of President Mbeki (who chose not to speak), when he questioned why South Africa’s political capital should still carry the colonial name Pretoria, 10 years after the country attained freedom from apartheid.

He warned the gathering of heads of state and governments against leaving Accra to become objects of ridicule. Calling for a practical but speedy integration process, the Libyan leader questioned the value of sovereignty when most African countries are saddled with conditionalities at bilateral and multilateral negotiation tables.

By the close of Monday’s session, it seemed as if the 9th Ordinary Session of the AU was going to end with a split, pushing the continent’s integration process on a two-tier track, with those ready for a fast-track process taking the lead.

But, this all changed by the time the Libyan leader ended his one and half hour speech Tuesday. He said, “We came to Accra united and we must leave Accra united.”

That, notwithstanding, Niger’s President had refused to come because his country was accusing Libya of illegal incursions in its territory. Blaise Compare of Burkina Faso refused to read his speech himself in apparent protest against Gaddafi. But, in the end, it was vintage Gaddafi. The man who got America to change its view of him, managed to pull a pleasant surprise on his doubters at the Accra summit with his practical appreciation of the challenges before the unification agenda of Africa.

The shift by Gaddafi paved the way for a compromise, which one senior AU diplomat described to The Statesman as “practical but radical.” She explained that, the communiqué, which was yet to be prepared before going to press, was expected to be practical in its appreciation of the challenges and radical in its approach to resolving the challenges in pushing for integration.

Senegal had showed how ready its people were, from farmers to soldiers, and even cited its constitution which makes allowances for the ceding of sovereignty to a continental government. Wade, was in the end, left holding the Instantist flag, with other small countries like Benin and Guinea.

Earlier, Uganda’s Museveni, whose speech started seemingly in favour of the radical approach, ended advocating for the Regional Economic Communities to be strengthened and streamlined.

But, he mentioned as some of the challenges, the vast diversity on the continent, saying integration works better where there is “similarities and compatibilities.”

But, in response, the Ethiopian Prime Minister gave two practical examples. He cited the European Union, which has made so much progress, especially on the common market front, even though there are several languages. Zenawi compared that to the 22-member Arab League.

Though the League, which has been around since March 22, 1945 is of nations with shared religion, cultures, and language, they have not been able to make any significant progress on the areas stated in their charter, he argued.

Zenawi urged his fellow leaders to cut down on the rhetoric and focus more on what makes unity work. His view was that the best approach was for Africans to concentrate on forming a common market by integrating the continent’s economies.

With the AU headquarters at his capital, Addis Ababa, he was in a position to say how weak the Commission was. He asked the leaders to not only audit the performance of the Commission but also seek to give it more powers to perform its mandate with teeth to bite.

Gaddafi, for instance, condemned the current situation where 53 ministers of state meet to negotiate with other countries or economic blocs. He called for one foreign minister, one defence minister, and similar arrangements on health, environment and trade.

Gaddafi took his time to go through the Constitutive Act of the Union and pointed how the body has failed in implementing the objectives stated. He gave particular attention to Article 10, which deals with the Executive Council. It reads: “

1. The Executive Council shall be composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs or such other Ministers or Authorities as are designated by the Governments of Member States.

“2. Council shall meet at least twice a year in ordinary session. It shall also meet in an extra-ordinary session at the request of any Member State and upon approval by two-thirds of all Member States.”

The Libyan leader proposed for one permanent minister or commissioner, modelled on the lines of the EU, to represent the interests of the continent when it comes to negotiations with the WTO, etc.

He also called for Africa to present a united front to push for a permanent seat on the United Nations’ Security Council, representing the AU. He also criticised the arrangement for a UN-AU joint force for Darfur. He wants to see Africa undertaking such exercises on its own.

The current make up of the commissioners is under criticism. One diplomat told The Statesman: “They look lifeless. Some even appear to be there on the ticket of affirmative action rather than ability to act.”

The man who has ruled Libya since 1969, reminded his colleagues that, with the exception of Omar Bongo, he could be said to have been around the longest.

He recalled the role Libya, under his leadership played in the liberation struggle of countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe. Libya served as training ground for freedom fighters at the risk of being branded breeding ground for terrorists by the West.

He said he was the only leader who had travelled across the continent by road and was therefore very conversant with the continent’s abject poverty, which he said could not be tackled by the countries as individual entities.

At 8pm last night, the secretariat was drafting the communiqué for approval by the AU leadership.
Posted by Hakima on 07/04 at 01:30 PM