Wene Owino
7 July 2009
Gaborone — Botswana has declared the just-ended African Union Summit a failure and slammed Libyan President, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi for lack of respect for established procedures and use of coercion to conduct the affairs of the AU, which he chairs.
"The Summit failed the people of Africa by not dealing with issues that are of immediate concern to their livelihoods such as what may be done to advance investments in agriculture to promote food security," Botswana vice-president Lt-Gen Mompati Merafhe who attended the Summit on behalf of President Ian Khama said in Gaborone on Monday.
He said that Libya was an excellent host for the summit in Sirte but the same cannot be said about the way the business of the summit was handled. "The Libyans were excellent hosts as far as providing facilities for the visitors was concerned. The same cannot be said with regard to the way the business of presiding over the meeting was handled," Merafhe said.
"The chair of the African Union, Libya, has no respect for established procedures and processes of the African Union and this may be motivated by his burning desire to coerce everyone into the premature establishment of an African Union Government," he added.
He said that Libya through Gaddafi bulldozed the summit to pass its proposals without debate. "The two proposals by Libya for the establishment of the African Defence Council and the establishment of the African Agency for the Protection of Territorial and Economic Waters of African countries were adopted by the Summit with no debate allowed by the chair," he explained.
"In our view, this was a rushed decision because the financial and other resource implications for establishing these bodies were not properly examined. The questions of whether the creation of the Defence Council in particular, will be of benefit to the entire continent or to a specific region as well as its relationship to the existing AU Peace and Security Council were also not examined," Merafhe added.
He asserted that Botswana is concerned about the proliferation of agencies/structures established by the African Union without capacity to sustain and implement their mandates.
"We will therefore find it difficult to accede to protocols establishing these unless proper consultations are carried out," he said.
Merafhe told the AU to get its priorities right if it hopes for a functional unity among African countries and peoples.
He warned that the Sirte summit was made to rush the adoption of many commitments, which will be difficult to implement. He said the summit was given little time to debate before the decision was made not to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the arrest of Sudan President Omar Al-Bashir for atrocities committed in Darfur.
"The chair did not permit much debate on this matter and we did not get an opportunity to put our opinion across. It is our view that Africa should not try to undermine the work of the ICC simply because one Head of State called Bashir has been indicted by the Court.
"Indeed by doing so we would be, as Kofi Annan recently put it, demeaning 'the yearning for human dignity that resides in every African heart'. It also represents a step backward in the battle against impunity," Merafhe said.
"Until we can all appreciate what democracy, rule of law, respect for fellow Africans and the dignity of others mean in practice, Africa has a very long way to go before we can truly understand each other andwork towards common continental objectives," he added.
Merafhe accused Gaddafi of presenting to the summit a different version of what was agreed would form the African Union Authority that is meant to replace the African Union Commission.
"It was anticipated that the AU Authority will comprise a president, vice-president as well as secretaries with portfolios based on areas of shared competence. The understanding from the recommendations of the Ministers (Executive Council) and the February 2009 Assembly was that the Authority will not compromise the sovereignty and independence of member states of the AU.
"The view that we could also live with was that the Authority will remain an inter-governmental body deriving its mandate from the Assembly of the Heads of States and Government.
"However, what was presented at the summit at the insistence of the chair (Libya) was clearly not what everyone expected nor had agreed with. It was also clear that consensus on what the AU Authority will be coordinating was not reached at the level of the Executive Council (the Ministers).
"We had not, for instance, anticipated that the chair will insist on inclusion of areas such as the coordination of a common African Defence and Security Policy and the elaboration of a common African programme of action on the area of foreign trade and foreign policy as well as other areas which were not identified as areas of competence in the earlier deliberations on the matter.
"Neither had we anticipated that the chair will equate the functions of the secretaries (who will replace the current AUcommissioners) to those of eight continental ministers headed by a president and vice president.
"Given the way the meeting was presided over by the chair, Botswana found it fruitless to oppose the adoption of what is essentially the framework of the African Union Government, the issue on which our position is well known. It was clear that the chair was not prepared to entertain opposing views or opinions calling for a gradual approach to continental integration," Merafhe said.
He explained that it must be understood that while the Sirte Summit was forced to adopt a document most countries did not agree with, the test will be in implementation.
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This article has all hallmarks of the mind set that served to enslave and colonize our people and continent, it is this mind set that crippled the OAU for many decades it was the Mompati Merafhe's of this world who opposed the initial formation of the OAU and today we hear again the voice of their 'colonized minds' Lets make this point crystal clear, the AU is not about Gaddafi, just as the OAU was not about Nkrumah.... It is about Africa and we Africans and it is 'Our Time' Our task, the task of our generation, is clear, we are charged with the task of 'Liberating, Unifying and Transforming' of our 'Peoples and Continent' and no gainsayers will detract us from fulfilling this, our duty and call to destiny. What is it that so disturbs Mompati? Is it, that as a continent, we are now resolved to pool our Soverenity, our Human and Material Resources, or maybe, it is our commitment to speak with one voice on the global stage or perhaps he takes umbrage at our settled 'Will' to protect and defend our continent by fashioning a force charged with the protection and defense of Our Continent and People? Is Mompati opposed to We Africans determining and taking command of our destiny? Is he hostile to us providing the long over due 'Geo-Political', Economic and Social Coherence our people demand and deserve? Does he feel that after more than one hundred years of existence as a Scared, Balkanized and Shattered Continent we should wait for an other 100 years marking time in the geo-political limbo that is our current situation? Lest we forget, in our current configuration it is African nations which are by nearly every yardstick, the least economically developed, some of the highest infant mortality rates, lowest life expectancy, least industrialised, most corrupt, least transparent and most repressive states in the world and to suggest that we continue with more of the same verges on the insane. We need and must repair the damage inflicted by History's folly' The watch word for us Africans now is 'Change', not tomorrow but Now! We demand, profound change, change in our politics,change in our economics, change in our individual and collective mindset,'Today' and this is what the recent AU Summit has began to deliver and it is for this reason that we must salute the 'Sons and Daughters' who have made these momentous days possible. As Always Wadi 'The Zima'
Wadi 'The Zima,
Yo say Africa needs change now. I agree with you but I dont think the kind of change proposed by Gadaffi and his cronies is the kind of change we need. We need an Africa that consultes and debates and reaches well researched and factually supported resolutions - not orders. I am the king of kings of Africa...read this and sign...the decision has been made by the chair...Is that what you want? You talk of corruption. Yes that should stop. But it woont stop as long as Africa still worships dictators like Gaddaffi and Mugabe. Botswana is the least corrupt country in Africa, has multi party democracy, has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, has limited presidential terms etc. Why cant Africa learn one or two things from them; especially on corruption if at all Africa is so much riddled with corruption. Its high time Africa works on its problems in a SYSTEMATIC AND ORDERLY WAY, and stop the blame game.
Moks..
What Botswana is doing now will have far reaching consequences in the long term for the country's relations with the continent..The unelected military junta that is being increasingly autocratic in Botswana has been foolishly breaking ranks with the entire continent inorder to win praise from the West but at the same time gay Khama and his henchmen have not been noticing that they are gradually getting isolated on the continent. No sane african leader condones the undeplomatic rants Botswana has been making against other african countries and continental bodies..Moks,have u ever asked yourself why Bots always appears to be the only nation breaking ranks with other african states after continental summits like AU and SADC .Well,everyone knows that Botswana is a client state of the United States gvt therefore that is why they disrespect and undermine Afican organisations' decisions becoz they're being made to do so..Surely there are diplomatic and polite ways Botswana regime can voice its reservations to decisions taken by a continental bodies like SADC and AU, rather than rant publicly..Let me tell u my dear that Botswana will pay a heavy price in the future for choosing to ally themselves with Western imperialist forces while trashing decisions of their own african brothers..The west has no permanent friends but has permanent interests..Botswana is loosing its credibilty in Africa becoz of what it's doing.It might earn praise in the West, but African leaders no longer take the Khama's junta seriously..If Botswana is now sick of being a member of african bodies they're routinely at odds with, why can't they just move out.It's a free world!!Moks,Instead of making noise about the arrest of Al BASHIR, Bots regime and its supporters like u need to vigorously call for the immidiate arrest of genocidal murderers Blair, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield,Wolfowitz,Rice,Powell, inorder for africa and the world at large to respect the International Criminal court and take u seriously...
Then what are you willing to do about African leaders who willfully kill their own people and other African people. Just let them get away with murder. What are your suggetions regarding the safety of women and children from rape, maming and murder? These are serious crimes that largely go unpunished. The idea is good but why can't grown so-called educated men come an agreement regarding the issues of food,safety,housing,medical for their own people. Otherwise I see this as a waste of time. The one natural resource that Africa has is it's people and the future of Africa starts with the children who will one day grow up to be the new leaders of Africa without the greed and other selfish motives
mabhiza a typical comment by you just start name calling to make yourself and the actual bad regimes of Africa look good which you have failed miserably. Gaddafi is a certified nut and well has already shown that earlier in his life and if he was such a great leader why is he no longer President??? Seems the people spoke and he is no longer in power and now the AU has elected him President well that alone speaks for Africa and the who they are. You choose a guy who could care less about improving the lives for the people in the continent of Africa he only cares for homself. I know why you like him it reminds you of Mugabe so of course you are going to support him... You dislike Botswana b/c they have stood up and spoken clearly on their feelings on Mugabe and his regime so that is your problem with them and it has nothing to do with this AU summit...
Anyone who is against Mugabe is a puppet for the West just please get a life and realize that the leadership of Botswana can clearly see when you have corrupt regimes in charge like Mugabe in Zimbabwe and the list could go on across Africa...
As far as genocidal crimes well stop with any American leaders that should be charged this comment makes you look very stupid b/c it was voted on by not only the west but other countries so they went in over what had been done to our country which was attacked first. Should we hold Afghanistan leadership accountable for Osama Bin Ladin's actions when there were 3000 innocent people killed in America? You need just to worry about stating things you need fact not opinions and we all know where your buddies are... All of them are power hungry corrupt leaders who will do anything to keep power..
I wonder where will you be when Mugabe no longer has control of Zimbabwe???
Americ35.
I see you've come back to defend your American regime's double standards.People like you have shame at all..You rant about democracy and the need to respect the will of the people while at the same time you despise africans for appointing Gaddaffi as leader of the African union..Americ35 you fail to respect the democratic election victories of some leaders around the world because they're not your 'prefered candidates'ie american stooges..You have no conscience at all..For your own information,zimbabweans are not the only ones who detest Botswana's military junta, but the entire African continent now resents Khama and his regime..Botswana is fast losing its credibility among africans who rightly view it as an American client state.That country may win praise from the likes of you americ35 and your western imperialist regimes but at the same time it's creating many enemies across the continent..This is the reason why khama's junta is always a lone voice against african decisions at summits.No sane african leader would support that junta's irrationality.The fact that Botswana begged Britain to colonise it when others were waging first chimurenga against the British says it all, this slavish behaviour is what Botswana has been used to..
Americ 35, Iraq never attacked United States at any time in history.There was no single iraqi in the suicide planes that hit the twin towers and pentagon in sept 2001..Saddam never haboured al quaeda in iraq. Infact him and bin laden were sworn enermies..Iraq never possessed any nuclear weapons in its history.It's clear that your former leader Bush ,his partner in crime Blair,& their henchmen LIED deliberately by twisting the above facts then invading Iraq without UN approval then they started a horrendous genocidal campaign..As africans, we're extremely angered that ICC has never made any effort to indict them..This is why african leaders will not cooperate with a kangaroo court that lost its credibility..Americ35 you have to accept that we will create United States of Africa whether you like it or not and your lapdog regimes like Botswana's will not stop the train[led by Gaddaffi] from moving..
mabhiza and takunya well you seem all alone here and so that alone proves how worthless your words are because everyone knows the truth. Talk about twisting of words look at Mugabe and some of your own African leaders of course culturally you cannot lose face and cause shame to come upon yourself so you always point fingers at the rest of the world and disregard the faults you have.
You hate anything connected to the West or thinks like them so go ahead with your name calling and you and your few comrades will soon cease to exist....No one has to kill you and will kill yourself so no help needed from someone else..
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