Gadhafi reported seeking 2nd Term as African Union Chief
Preparations for a semi-annual African Union summit are being overshadowed by Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi’s attempt to overturn the tradition of a rotating chairmanship and to remain as AU chief.
Senior African diplomats gathering for the continental summit in Ethiopia’s capital say Colonel Gadhafi is waging a well-financed campaign to keep his post as African Union chairman. The issue will be decided in a closed session of AU heads of state at the opening summit session Sunday.
By tradition, the chairmanship is awarded by geographical rotation among Africa’s five regions. Last year, the northern African countries nominated Mr. Gadhafi.
This year it is southern Africa’s turn, and the countries of the region have nominated Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutarika. A Malawian diplomat expressed confidence the nomination would be approved.
But the head of the organization’s executive arm, Commission Chairman Jean Ping, says rules governing the selection process are loosely defined. He spoke in French.
He says the choice of who will preside over the union for the next year is solely up to the heads of state. They make the rules, and if they want, they can modify them.
Ping told reporters the principle of geographic rotation could be overturned. He says the rotation rule has been followed in the past, but whether it would be followed this time, he does not know.
Mr. Gadhafi, who led a military coup that took power in Libya more than 40 years ago, has said one year is not enough to carry out his plans for African integration. He is pushing for creation of an African Union Authority that would have far broader powers than the current Commission, and wants to form a continental defense force under a single command.
Attempts to contact Libyan diplomats for this story were unsuccessful.
Several of Africa’s larger and more powerful countries are known to oppose both the pace of Mr. Gadhafi’s integration plan and his effort to stay on as AU chief.
A number of heads of state were said to have taken offense last year when, after being elected chairman, the eccentric Libyan leader declared himself ‘King of Africa’.
But few question his ability to get what he wants. He is said to have won the backing of several of Africa’s weaker and poorer states, some of which have received Libyan financial aid.
Diplomats and experts on AU procedures say Mr. Gadhafi would probably need the support of two-thirds of the heads of state attending the summit to retain the chairmanship. But based on past attendance, it is possible fewer than half of the body’s 53 heads of state will be present at Sunday’s closed-door session.
Western diplomats, whose countries finance one-third of the AU budget, say allowing the Libyan strongman to stay on as chairman would hurt the union’s effort to portray itself as a champion of democratic ideals. They say it may also force donors to reconsider their support.
Mr. Gadhafi’s three immediate predecessors as chairman had all been democratically elected heads of state, helping the continental body to rid itself of its old reputation as a club for dictators.
Source: VOA
Gadhafi seems to be an arrogant dictator. That uses his power to control the poor countries. I don’t want him to be elected again. It is a dictator.
Gadhfi should not be elected again. Africa is not his kingdom. He will have to do only with Libya.
I believe Gadhafi is the only African leader that dresses accordingly with African symbol all over . He has very good ideas for the development of the continent. He believe openly that African could take care of themself without the need of the Europeens masters that drain everything from Africa.
By the way he has a vision and has the mean to say no when conditions are not fair. Most of the African leaders are afraid because they believe he is very powerful and charismatic
bros if all of us can stand behind him maybe our own country will have atlist a hope,
I think 1 year is a very short time. They should at least make 3 or 2years. Well any way they choose to go, I pray it benefits the African continent.
The empty-headed African jester
Let Mr. Gadhafi take his deserved rest, this is not to undermine his goodwill gestures and visionary plans for Africa. What Africa needs right now is a different approach that is different from the mundane way of thinking that things can only be better-off through unity. We need to clean our backyards first before ever dreaming of coming together, just like the Europeans did. All this African Union Utopia should be placed on a shelf like kegs of wine. Maybe with time if we take good care of the kegs, we’ll reap mature and good wine, if not we’ll just have wine that has turned rancid. That said, Mr. Gadhafi I still appreciate your outspokenness and courage, if others could at least copy the good side in you, we could have been a stone throw from Unity.
Thank you bros. I can not add anything more. Charity begins at home.
He has good ideas, but history shows he is power drunk and prone to abusing it.
Dear all i think Brother Gathafi should be given another chance to see what he can do for Africa.Italy has compensated all what they took from Libya during colonisation and it will continue for 20years,libyans today has free entry and exit to italy.He is strong and courageouse and capable of saying No or Yes when its time for it.He remain one of the main key in African progress and His Green Book is also good to be read if you have access to it.never condemned something from afar but come closer to something and you will know it better.thanks to all the readers,long live Africa
Gadhafi must go. he wants to transfer his dictatorship of libya to the rest of africa. we must not support this foolish man , he must go. other african leaders stayed 1year as head of AU and why must this useless gadhafi think he is different. 40 years as president in libya is a clear sign that this man is a dictator. we dont need this in AU, we need democracy. usless gadhafi leave power to others.
Mr. dallas guy, its more mature, curteous and professional not using words like “foolish man” when making such comments. I personally am skeptical about Ghadafi’s real intentions, but right now, he is the only president in africa who is not a puppet to the western world like the others. We can call Libya a dictator ruled country as much as we like. but at the end of the day, we cannot compare our DEMOCRATIC cameroon to Dictator ruled libya in anything. Even if ghadafi is not the head of Au, I hope that he still keeps pushing forward for real afrcan integration which really will be the solution to all african problems.
dallas guy take it easy and dont just write because u are in America and people term libya undemocracy,please guys be free and dont abuse someone when talking about seriouse matters,a good and a mature man doesnt abuse people uneccessarily,why call a leader useless?or foolish?dont u see u make urself foolish when using such terms.please try to respect seniors ok.all of us need democracy,but is there democracy in Iraq now after Sadam?all Iraqis need Sadam back but forever…
Bro you better save that USELESS SERMON for yourself! And learn to respect the opinions of others. Was Gadhafi not the same villain that slaughtered hordes of Sub-saharan African migrants in the nineties?
mr titti did u see him slaughtering africans?when criminal do their work they tend to blame leaders and head of states.do you want Gadafi to go out to the desert defending migrants from rebels.Gathafi still maintain that the black race shall gain the world just like the white and the yellow did.Do you know that Gadafi does not forgive you if you tampered with Black skin.He keep defending Blacks evrywhere, try to know true stories and not hear say ok.some people use to say that there are no christians in libya which is very fake stories.
Dr. Chinson,
I think we do get the point. It is a democratic process, i believe, so if all the other leaders reelect him into that office, so be it.
Mr Emile you have really come out with a good point of view. if Gadafi is elected good and fine and if he is not elected it doesnot mean that he is a dictator.the respect which Gadafi have must African leaders do not have because their voices are not always loud for the world.when Gadafi speak you see him facing facts and reality.and since it is an election lets wait and see.yesterday Gadafi was addressing his people and he still encourage them to go and invest in Africa like China has done,if u watch the African games through CRTV you will see them advatising OILIBYA and we have Afriqiya Airways which is cheap and good as well.Ask them to intermarried with Africans then what do we need more than this?well we are just sharing ideas bro.swe welcome all sort of criticism and not abuses ok.
titi dont mind that person that call himself doctor chinson, dont u see that he is writing from libya?, i think he is one of the people promoting gadhafi dictatorship , birds of thesame feathers flock together. we dont need that in AU, gadhafi must go out of AU , his term in office is finsih.
Dallas guy if you could be here to see the developments that are taking place in libya ,you yourself you will tell Gathafi to be in power for ever.i think we prefere all our presidents to be in power for more than 100years if they can do what Brother Gathafi is doing to his people.Libyan remains the only country where children do not beg from each other and all households having enough food.come and see libya for yourself then you will recommend Gadafi for ever.
Lies! You better stop spreading untold falsehood. Can you explain why Sweden is littered with tons upon tons of refugees from Libya? The same bunch of Libyan youngsters who go around the streets of Sweden shouting F…. GADHAFI! You say Gadhafi loves black people?! I never knew that there were black people in Libya until i saw the plethora of black people here in Sweden who come here seeking refuge from a regime they themselves describe as demoniacal. You love Libya more than those people who know Libya better than you? Massa wuna choose pippo. Frankly, you don’t seem to be a progressive lad. Why not just leave Biya alone too for wisely using liquor as a tool for keeping Cameroon safe from war for instance? Isn’t that ingenious enough to keep Biya in office for another 100 years according to your partial mindset?
titi i can swear to anything libya is still very better than many countries in the world today,in politics,economic and social affairs.
Heh Country people! Take it easy, I think the point Dr. Chinson is making could be given pertinence. It is true he sojourns in Libya, the more reason we should even consider some of his comments without raising so much durst. Africa needs positive dictators; we are still unripe for the so much cherished democracy. Moreover, most of the dehumanization campaign against Gadhafi is just a dirge from the west. Emile from Virginia is also right, African leaders are big enough to decide on his mandate. I beg wona, mek we debate like grand them…
Berliner,infact we should face facts and reality,i know people from Cameroon living in libya and doing extremely well with their jobs and high earnings.we have to know that when we give Gadafi names its not from us but its from the western media,and we can see the west and americas are rushing now to libya for investment.Gadafi is not going to use any powers to remain the chairman of AU but if re-elected he will still continue fighting for a better future for our children,African the land of evrything,paradise on earth but remain the poorest in all aspects.ignorance remain the worst disease on earth,we should try to do research on many issues about African Leaders.and lets study our people first before leaders.we should be able to say Yes without disturbing another man from saying No.
Mr Gadhafi we know a lot about your achievements in Libya and beyond especially when a travel and economic embargo were lashed on your country and how you over came these hurdles and stood tall over your compatriots in Africa.We also know how much you are contributing in the economic and political integration of Africa,and, the pitence that you give to those weak and poor countries in Africa”which are the weak and poor countries”, in the name of economic cooperation.This is welcome in any civilised society but shouldn,t be used as a weakness for political gains.Therefore,cognizance of the above,and taking in account that Africa is not a country”Libya” you shouldn’t wither away your achievements for egoism.It is the turn for a Sountern African country to head the AU and don’t behave as if Africa is resting on your shoulder”Libya”.Hence no boby as monopoly of knowledge and before you there have been others in likes of Nkruma,Sekou Toure,Nnamdi Azikiwe you can name the rest.All these people who were before had Africa in hteir hearts and some of them were killed because they jealously fought for this cause So respect yourself as a stateman and OBEY the rule of law.I’m there are also laws in your country and your citizens obey these laws
Dear all,
African needs to say NO to western colonial rule and only few nations who have managed to escape western rule like liyba can help the rest of continent. I have seen and continue to see how the western world keeps on enslaving us and our brothers south of saharan are being master played to backstable their brothers and killing each other allowing western rule to grow in Africa. we in asian tricklisly over come the west and the west is crying; allowing africa to slip from their hands will be a nite mare.
If leaders as Gadafi have wisely handled the west and brought them to equal terms with us africans, then we need such leadershp and wisdom and financial powers to lead and help africa free itself from everlasting colonial rule we shall see our grand children remain within if we dont fight hard.
Africa is in dire need of true leadership. That which can stand, defend and promote African values. That which can speak with pride and assurance on the conviction of the African people amidst western nations . That which can define what is truly right for Africans rather than wait for the western world to do so. Because nations are about their interests, that of Africa can only be truly defined by Africans. For this to happen, we need tough leaders. That said, the longevity of a leader in power poses problems when he does not deliver. If African leaders think Khadafi can do a better job, so be it rather than voting in a weak and malleable leader that can’t deliver to the people. Africa does not have a lot of head of states that can boldly stand for Africa. Democracy is good; but it can also be defined to suit a set of population.