Ethiopia: Gadhafi says AU has not made headway since inception

Libyan leader Mouammar Kadhafi, who is also the outgoing African Union (AU) chairman, has said that 10 years after the proclamation of the African Union (AU), Africans have unfortunately come to terms with the obvious reality that the continent is making no headway, especially in the realisation of the project of a united Africa.

Despite this, he expressed optimism that African themselves remain committed to and are working hard towards the establishment of the United States of Africa.

The Libyan leader, who spoke exclusively to PANA here on the eve of the 14th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said with the formation of the AU, Africans had expected that there would be a tremendous progress in the process leading to the formation of a Union Government, whose pre-requisites include the formation of a federal government and the setting up of continental support mechanisms to work tirelessly towards achieving this goal.

He said the establishment of the Union Government was being delayed by the failure to set up the necessary mechanisms.

``The United States of Africa will not see the light of day in a vacuum, but must be backed with the establishment of mechanisms that will hasten its realisation,'' he explained.

Such mechanisms, which the AU Chairman has been working tirelessly towards despite the difficulties, comprise the establishment of a federal government with ministers in charge of foreign affairs, defence, external trade, communications and t ransport.

To these, he said, should be added other ministerial portfolios which ``would be working day and night to make the dream of the United States of Africa come true''.

African nations are divided on the issue of Union Government, with some pushing for an immediate implementation while others are canvassing a gradual approach.

But the Libyan leader said could not rule out the possibility that the delay in setting up the Union Government could be due to the fear for change, progress and unity among Africans themselves, a situation he warned could give victory to the enemy.

He also warned that without unity, Africans would have no independence, no sover eignty or dignity, and that they would not be able to make any progress, despite the existence of material and human potentialities, as well as natural social cohesion - all conducive to the attainment of African unity.

The Libyan leader also expressed the view that 'what is lacking indeed is political courage, or political awareness, or both'.

``Africa will have no chance and will achieve nothing as long as it does not hav e a single minister for external trade, who speaks with genuine commitment and conviction when talking about issues concerning the 53 African countries before the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European market, the American market, the Chinese market and the Japanese market,'' Kadhafi said.

According to him, the consequences of the absence of unity will also be felt in international negotiations and international competitions, with the result that, for example, the continent's maritime and fish resources will constantly be plundered, not only in the waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but also in its own territorial waters.

``The EEZ of the African continent and its fish resources will remain in the han ds of other countries as long as Africa does not have a single defence structure that protects its territorial waters and coasts,' the Libyan leader said, citing the example of Somalia and its people, whom he described as victims of the plundering of their riches, violation of the country's sovereignty and the pollution of its waters.

He denounced the widespread tag of Somali piracy, instead of international piracy, which is widely used to describe the persistent hijacking of ships off the Somali coast, warning that the same situation in which Somalia has found itself could be experienced by the other African countries, in the absence of a united African with a single defence minister, a single African army and a single African Navy.

``Africa will be re-colonised and some major powers in the world will self-proclaim themselves as the guardians of the African continent and we will now find ourselves under ?~trusteeship','' he warned.

He said in addressing the ongoing war against climate change, the quest for an African environmental policy likely to protect the continent against Greenhouse gas emissions, or any other question related to the development and welfare of the African continent, only the creation of the Union's specific mechanisms could help Africa to find a just solution.

Kadhafi also cautioned that the delay in implementing such an important project for the continent as the Union Government could lead to a new round of military takeovers in Africa, adding: ``The Military are looking for opportunities such as the failures of governments to deliver the goods to take over power.''

Sirte - Pana 01/02/2010
Source: Afrique en ligne