Qaddafi, Mutharika to fight over AU leadership
Mutharika of Malawi
African heads of state and government are arriving in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) to be opened 31 Jan. 2010.
Accordingly, Libyan President Muammar Qaddafi, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Zambian President Rupiah Banda, Djiboutian President Ismael Omar Guelleh, and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika have already arrived in Addis Ababa on 29 Jan. 2010.
Meanwhile, Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has said the southern African country was qualified to lead the African Union and that he was ready to take up the mantle.
“The chairmanship of the African Union is rotational,” Mutharika told journalists before departing for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the summit at which he has been earmarked to take over the chairmanship of the continental grouping from the Libyan leader, Muammar Kadhafi.
He said: “The Southern African region, through SADC (the Southern African Development Community), has elected Malawi and therefore we are looking forward to be nominated.”
Mutharika’s statement came amid a brewing diplomatic row over the chairmanship, with reported attempts to extend Kadhafi’s chairmanship of the organisation.
The Libyan leader’s backers, including their northern allies Tunisia, argue that the AU chairmanship – faced by a US$ 1.3bn deficit for its programmes – needs someone with demonstrable financial muscle like Kadhafi.
Kadhafi reportedly bank-roles some of AU programmes.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has joined other countries backing the candidacy of Mutharika to head the AU at the summit of the Heads of State of the continent body beginning Saturday in Addis-Ababa.
Nigeria had decided to throw its weight behind the Malawian leader, reported Saturday Vanguard newspaper of Nigeria.
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Watchdog what’s up? Ninshi takuli latest news?
Watchdog,whats the problem?
it should go to Malawi period..forget about Libya…they had their time..why are the Arabs trying to bulldoze ?
The election of Muammar al-Gaddafi to the seat of African Union chair is a tragicomedy. It’s a comedy because he is the quintessential P-I-M-P, extravagant gangster deluxe complete with golden robes, women bodyguards, convoy and entourage. Not just any old entourage, mind – for his inauguration he was accompanied by ‘customary kings’ from around the continent who have apparently declared him the “King of Kings” and support his garbling delusion of a United States of Africa – his retirement project, after similar efforts to unite Arab states in his younger years failed dismally. Quite simply, he’s ludicrous. Too bad to be true. This guy? Really? It’s like 50 Cent meets Sarah Palin with a splash of Mr Bones. That’s the funny-ish side.
But actually, it’s kind of tragic. The elected chair of the African Union might be a comic freak, but he is also a ruthless dictator with a long, haphazard CV of financing violence all over the world, including overt support for Idi Amin at the climax of his murderous madness. He has described African presidents who willingly vacate their posts of power as disturbed and unrevolutionary. His current human rights record is appalling – groups conducting activities that are in contradiction to the principles of his revolution can be punished by execution. Disseminating information that could tarnish the reputation of the country gets off a bit lighter, with only life imprisonment.
Gaddafi is a joke, but a chilling one. In a closed-door vote, the leaders of our continent deliberately appointed him the chosen one. No doubt oil money had a lot to do with it, no doubt integrity has little to do with anything behind closed doors, no doubt they don’t give much of a damn about the problems that he represents, no big surprise… all I’m saying is, if the AU needed one more thing to bang its whimpering credibility even lower into the ground, they have it. I doubt that Gaddafi even in his capacity as AU chair once again will actually be able to significantly sway the course of the continent – but that this man has been given a platform to do so in the first place is just a disgrace. A disgrace.
Gadaffi is insulting all Africans by this stupid and belittling demand to extend his grip on power.
Is his hegimony any different frm that which he was castigating at the UN or whatever summit it was? No! And he could even be worse and this trait is dangerous for Africa. Already he is employing the tired divide-and-rule mechanism, which we should all object to and reject.
Shame on him and his supporters. If he wants to quit the AU for denying him the chance for his dictatorhsip and unreasonable desires, let him leave. Period!
What about u James Banda? Do you read what you post? This is Zambianwatchdog and not Lusaka Times.
I hate Gaddafi and his chairmanship of AU is a shame. The man does not believe in democracy and good governance but through dictatorship. Its now time for SADC to rule and nothing else. Muthalika Bingu is SADC and SADC we have said its now Malawi cos we as Zambia we had our chance and Gaddafi, s dream of United States of Africa was born here in Zambia.
AU is a sham of an organisation and i do not know whether they represent pipo of Africa because if they did so, real development was going to take place as we have a huge market withing Africa whereby good produced in Africa would have been bought within the continent. But because of Gaddafi who make other leaders puppets thorugh his oil wealth do not voice out. Gaddafi must go and if RB vote for him, he too must go and stay with him in Libya, finish. Africa is not the dull Gaddafi.
THE IDLENESS OF OUR LEADERS. THEY CUDNT REALIZE THAT GADDAFI WANTED TO RULE THEM BY SUPRISE.
IN THE THE 1980S, HE ALMOST WAGED A WAR FROM THE WEST TO THE NORTH. SUFFICE TO SAY,
HE WANTED TO EXTEND HIS INFLUENCE FROM NORTH TO WEST. HE AGGITATED FOR THE FORMATION OF THE A.U.
FRM THE O.A.U. U SAID ” INDE BWANA MUKUBWA” OTHERS EVEN WENT TO AN EXTENT OF
WORSHIPING HIM AS KING OF KINGS AND THE CHAP HAS BECOME BIG HEADED, BLASPHEMOUS
TO GOD. OSADABWA LET YOUR LEADERSHIP END THERE HERE WE FOUGHT FOR OUR OWN INDEPENDENCE
WE ARE A SOVEREIGN STATE, BABA, UKO KWINE
Zambia is caught up. We recieved some tractors to support Gadaffi. They promised to give us more aid if we remained in good books. We made trips to the desert like no other. What have we achieved. Nothing but bootlicking and exposing our immaturity in politics. Last year we announced were Zambia would cast its vote. This time around we have just heard rumours from tabloids. Corruption at work . It makes people decide erroneously.
This Gadaffi man is sick. No wonder he has been agitating for the formation of a united States of Africa. his hope is that he becomes its dictator. How on earth does he cling to the rotational and large symbolic position of AU chairman? This Gadaffi guys belongs to a group of dinosours that believe that only they have the wisdom and mandate to rule others. remember the kaunda type politicians, Museveni, Omar Bongo, Mugabe.
Its time for civilised leadership in Africa.
qaddafi ll carry the day.am sure brown evelopes ll be at stake.qaddafi is a cunning man.
James Banda, do you read what you Post. This is not LT. Remove the log in your eyes first brother.
Ba LT what do you mean by saying the leaders arrived on 29 february 2010? Do you read what you post on this site?