Does anyone else see an alarming pattern in the AU's rejection of any and all attempts by the 'west' to treat African perpetrators of genocide in the same way as they do Europeans and others? The AU cannot have it both ways: profiting from 'western' trade and aid whilst turning a blind eye to the vile corruption, human rights abuses and outright genocide within its ranks.

AU leaders should think twice before throwing the baby (western trade and aid) out the bath water (hatred of all things 'white'--except money, of course). African hypocrisy on these issues will continue to marginalise Africans issues in international fora. The 'west' can do without Africa but can Africa do without the 'west'?

Really? They can keep their trades and let Africa keep their integrity. How many Europeans have been tried in Africa without Europe raising an eyebrow or calling such settings a kangeroo court?

It is not an alarming pattern but an awakening on the part of African leaders. They should have been doing this often sending clear signal to Europe and other power blocks that Africans are human beings too and have their own systems in place.

Europe was not born in a day, Africa should be allowed to emerge. They fund all the crises in Africa, show me any company that produces AK47 in Africa.

Give me a break! If you an African, I think yu need to remove the veil and understand that we are in a new world order.

Oh come on! "Africans are human beings...." That is precisely what this is all about! When African leaders can stop thinking of themselves and start thinking of their people; start SERVING their people like true leaders, only then maybe we can have peace in Africa. What we see in Mbeki and other AU members is a wierd mentality that justifies the horrendous death and suffering of their own people just to spite the west!

PS... It was the EAST that made the AK47.

I can´t believe what are you saying. As was noticed before many of your african leaders are dictators who are going against your own people and you are standing behind them ? Those who commited genocide in Rwanda obviously are not human beings and deserve to be punished. Kagame is not willing to do that so somebody else has to. Please do not talk about national sovereignty if your are not capable to deal on your own with your problems. As Europeaan I admit mistakes of white man in Africa but now many of us is trying to help you. Many of Africans can not admit their own mistakes and behind all your problems you just see white man. This is absolutely ridicilous. There is no factory for AK47 in Africa what I know, but who buys and who shoots from machines ?

The Editor of Delia Blog obviously have a Coloniser mentality, the kind of Mentality of Colonisation time,a racist mindset that sets the West above the rest of the World, the kind of racism that want to make the World believe that Africans are less intelligent or intellectually capable.

He mentioned corruption, hypocrisy and other things. Let me point him to the corruption, hypocrisy of the Western Countries, Practice what you preach. Let us start with Human rights, how many Africans have been deported in Europe for seeking Refuge? And of course, it is the same Western Countries that would want to send their NGO's or what they call emergency Aid to Africa as if they care much about the internally displaced People.

On the issue of corruption, show me one Country that is not corrupt, how many African Countries manufacture Weapons in Africa? You know very well that it benefits some Western Countries to supply weapons in War zones in Africa.

I'd suggest to the Editor of Delia Blog to be careful with his racist comments on Africa, sort your house first before you point your finger at Africa.

The West needs Africa. It is the Cradle of human kind. It is where you find peaceful people who don't colonise anyone. Africa is the only Continent you experience real Humanity. Despite our goodness was disrupted, One day we will claim our goodness back. I set quite and have been asking myself a couple of days ago that I wonder if I go to Europe or any other Continent whether I would be welcomed like I do welcome those from outside Africa to my Continent. I wonder!

Africa deserves and should be given a WORLD PEACE AWARD of some sort.

Cradle of Human Kind? I should hope not! You blame the West for the guns in your country? I would look at the Russians for that one. Or maybe the people shooting the guns, you know the children that are forced to be soldiers? Who do you think buys the guns, they sure as hell aren't shipped there for free. And no the West doesn't need Africa. We spend trillions there every year to help the sick and hungry, and we need you?

People, I don´t understand why are you always just looking back and never ahead. That´s maybe your problem. People who colonised Africa it vwas just small percentage off all population. I am for example from Czech Republic. We never ever colonised anybody and we are placed in Europe as well so many other nations who have nothing to do with colonialism, anyway 99% of colonialist are dead now. People are everywhere same !!! Pls. dont make difference just good and bad, nothing less nothing more. Africa isn´t only continent which has experienced real humanity. I can say you would be welcome in my home if you come to Europe, in my village and in my country. Of course you mind find some stupid people who will dislike you same like me. Many times they abused me in Africa just because my colour of skin...African are same rasist as Europeans and Americans are..no less, no more...just everywhere same

How many indictments for USA/British Marines and Generals on Irag and Afghan? Can the West give it a try at Chinese please.. Dah! Anarchy and Contempt for Africa is evident. Should Africa let you trample it like that? Make a U-turn.

one has to conclude that the horrible conditions in practically all african contries,the powerty,starvation, sickness and the total disregard for human life, is indeed the fault of the white man... by pushing so hard to bring the continent under black rule,and allowing powerhungry dictators to exploit their own population to a degree unheard of under colonial rule, the continent is rapidly disintegrating... the rest of the world accepts this state of criminal misery for everyone...it is ok,it seems,as long as the perpetrators and the victims are of the same color....

the AU summit is a concentration of dictators most of whom have spent more than twenty years in power,without preparing ground for democracy and very engaged in corruption. this is why they can't afford to criticize guys like zimbabwean mugabe or rwandan kagame(omar bongo,paul biya,museveni....):if they did, the same could apply to them; So this summit cant be anything other than hipocrisy!!!

Getting their countries out of colonialism or civilwars does not give them a lifetime credit to exercise power.it is a sign of poorness to have one person decide for a country for more than 12years,isn't realy there people capable of leading with balanced ideas to get a country progress? once the song about colonialism is over, its time to move to other issues and africans have a good deal to deal with!! So please "thank you for what you've done but please move on stop maintaining ignorancy in our countries and civilwar -blackmailing just to stay in power "it is not always occidentals to blame where our responsibility is engaged!

But when it suited some African people they were quick to get international support for removing white rule where-ever in Africa. Now that atrocities are being committed to black Africans by black African, it is suddenly a different story and the internationals must stay out. Principles (normally something of noble and enduring character) is not a strong point in Africa's goverment environment

I disagree with the African Union leaders on this in principle, but in the particular case they are right. State sovereignty should be a means to generate a group mentality and as a bureaucratic means of administrating government, but that does not mean that sovereignty should stand in the way of prosecuting criminals, especially those accused of crimes against humanity. However, in this case, there seems to have been little effort by the Europeans to confirm that the two Rwandans are actually guilty. If they had gone through proper procedure and could prove beyond a doubt that the two were guilty, then at that point the African leadership, and more specifically in this case, Paul Kagame, should be glad to know that the West wants to help remove dangerous people who have committed horrendous acts off of the street, regardless of location. Furthermore, I think that, if the two were convicted, they should be tried locally by their peers, but it should be done on the dime of the convicting nation, in this case France and/or Spain. Those comparatively wealthy nations should be willing to bear the financial burden if they are the ones pointing the legal finger.