31 August 2008
Lagos — Italy yesterday agreed to pay Libya US$5 billion as compensation for its 30-year occupation of the country, which ended in 1943.
AP reports that the compensation agreement was sealed in Benghazi, Libya, when the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi held a discussion with Libyan Prime Minister, Baghdadi Mahmudi.
Berlusconi and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi signed a memorandum pledging a US$5 billion compensation package involving construction projects, student grants and pensions for Libyan soldiers who served with the Italians during World War II.
"It is a material and emotional recognition of the mistakes that our country has done to yours during the colonial era," Berlusconi told reporters at the airport on his arrival. "This agreement opens the path to further cooperation."
In return, Italy wants Libya to crack down on illegal migrants turning up on Italian shores, and Italy will fund US$500 million worth of electronic monitoring devices on the Libyan coastline.
Gadhafi received Berlusconi under a big tent in Benghazi where they discussed the agreement over lunch. The Italian leader said US$200 million of the package would be for infrastructure projects over the next 25 years, including a coastal highway stretching across the country from Tunisia to Egypt.
The two leaders exchanged gifts, with Berlusconi giving Gadhafi a silver inkstand, sculpted in the form of a lion's head, with two pens inside to sign the agreement. The Libyan leader gave Berlusconi a linen suit.
Berlusconi's office said in a statement that the premier would also hand over to Gadhafi the Venus of Cyrene, an ancient Roman statue taken in 1913 by Italian troops from the ruins of the Greek and Roman settlement of Cyrene, on the Libyan coast.
Relations between the two countries have warmed over the last few years, with Italian leaders meeting Gadhafi several times. However, it has taken years of negotiations for the two sides to reach a deal on compensation for Italy's rule over Libya from 1911 to 1943.
Libya named Aug. 30 Libyan-Italian Friendship Day.
The Libyan success in getting monetary compensation for the exploitation of her resources by a colonial master raised the issue of whether Nigeria should also not initiate a process of demanding adequate compensation from Britain for decades of colonial subjugation spanning the period 1914 to 1960.
The only co-ordinated attempt by African nations to demand compensation from European colonial masters and slave traders was initiated in 1990 by late Chief M.K.O. Abiola who initiated discussions on reparation for Africa.
The initiative however died when late Abiola joined politics in 1993 and sought the presidency of Nigeria. He died in incarceration resulting from his struggle to reclaim his electoral mandate usurped by the military government of Gen. Sani Abacha.
While responding to the question of whether Nigeria can equally make legitimate claim for compensation from Britain her colonial master for over 40 years of exploitation, Dr. Eyimofe Atake (SAN) said: "To be able to answer that question, one needs to know exactly why compensation was paid and the circumstances in which compensation was paid. One needs to know the fact of the case between the Italians and the Libyans and how the issue for the payment of compensation arose. No two cases are necessarily similar, so in the absence of the facts and circumstances that led to the payment of compensation, it will be totally speculative to say if Nigeria could ask for compensation or be paid compensation by Britain.
"In any event, under international law, Britain and Italy are separate and distinct states. They are sovereign states. Consequently, the British government is not bound by the acts of the Italian government. The decision of the Italian government is personal to them based on their peculiar circumstance and facts, which have nothing to do with the British government and the Nigerian government," he said through a text message forwarded to THISDAY from Miami, Florida in the United States.
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>>when Africa pays reparations for all the people they sold???
what a duffus? who was in charge at the time of this trade you moron? Africans were ignorantly and stupidly accessories to this vile trade. You have your wires crossed.
As for reparations I seriously do not see how it is possible. Are we going to sit there and say that we have not been receiving reparations in forms of loans/debt to our old masters? Libya was successful because technically they have never relied on handouts from Italy or anywhere else for that matter. They came to the table heavily self-sufficient. Which leader in black africa will go and sit on the negotiating table and claim reparations. The west just have to dangle the carrot in front of him/her and voila...all our problems solved.
One lesson to this theory reparation is:'RESPECT yourself' We managed to waste all we have been given and we think we can ask for more in form of reparations. I would rather the west keep that for now.
AT DE,ESE SOMBOO DEM WHO GO PAY REPARATION FOR BAKASSIANS? OBASSANJO, YEE GOO TAKE 50M BRIBE MONEY FROM FRANCE AND SELL DEM. NAA PEOPLE DEMM THIS?
I agree.....the west has given grants, forgiven loans and/or paid directly over $500 billion dollars to Africa in the last 60 years....what good have we done with it? our leaders have stolen countless $billions and development for the people has gone un-answered. We are not serious with what we have recieved. Reperations? I think we have received it....to bad we have squanderd it away.
Any just minded mind should definately know that Europe and America; owed Africa a lot and it would not do harm to redeem the wrongs of their forefathers; or to say the least to atleast start investing heavily into African markets. They should start trading with Africa just like China is currently doing. The wrongs and brutality of colonialism and slavery was not the fault of current Western Governments, but the sins of their forefathers; and it would do them much good to redeem their savage wrongs done to the African continent by either repatriation or fianancial investment. The last time I did my research, I learnt that only 3% of African products are trading into the global economy. How do you expect the continent to catch up if the west does not even open up their markets and trade with them like real partners. The west owed a lot to Africa and it could be redeem and is not too late. tg
What on earth are you talking about? seriously I don't think you are out of your mind but misguided. You need to look at the investment climate in Africa to see how unstable it is. Who would want to invest or trade within an insecure climate. We need to shape up first, bring every citizen to understand the value of a neighbour not in terms of relationship but in terms of economy. Just look at some of our kins who have a lot how they hold on to it. Africa should start to trade with itself first which means it has to develop itself, otherwise this is wishful thinking that looks more like begging.
Are you going to tell me that if Africa manage to develop a solid stable market offering goods rivaling those in other market the west will not jump on the first opportunity.
Please!!!
They should engage Africa in global investment and trade; and if they willfully give up repatriation, it would further help to placate the evil of slavery and colonisation their forefathers did to the African People.
African appear to have joined willingly into the slave trade. Please do not try to whitewash history - in East Africa the Africans collaborated totally willingly with the Arabs in selling their fellow tribesmen into slavery.
The majority of the slaves' descendants in the West have prospered and are far better off than those that were left behind.
Compensation - Unnecessary - the BILLIONS poured into Africa, which have been misspent and misappropriated are more than ANY compensation could ever be.
I believe that Britain should pay reparations when Africa pays reparations for all the people they sold into slavery all over the world. That would be fair.
They should not be asking anyone to pay reparations. What nerve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!