Windhoek — Last week's foreign-sponsored killing of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi must serve as a lesson to Africa that foreign aggressors are readying themselves to pounce on the continent.
So says the Founding Father of the Namibian nation, Dr Sam Nujoma, who is shocked and saddened by the killing of the Libyan leader. He said the enemy is on the prowl and would attack Africa anytime as long as the continent continues to be divided.
Africans, the former Head of State told New Era in an interview yesterday, must hold hands and march together to confront the enemy who has his eyes firmly glued on the continent's vast resources.
"If there is a demand on the part of the population of a country for a change of government, it must go through free, fair and democratic elections. That is the rule," Nujoma said.
"You cannot talk about democracy and imply that it should only be exercised by the people of Europe," he added.
The Namibian government has been consistent in its stance that peace talks rather than the barrel of the gun should have been given prominence in the search for a solution to the Libyan conflict.
"I don't want to go beyond what our President has said at the UN," he said, adding, "there must be free, fair and democratic elections in order to change a government."
"The Republic of Namibia is clearly on record that if there is a change of government, it must go through the exercise of the majority of the people of that country," stressed the statesman.
Nujoma, Namibia's President between 1990 and 2005, squarely blamed Nato for the death of Gaddafi, amidst calls for an in-depth inquiry about how the former Libyan strongman met his fate.
"I think the assassination of Gaddafi was organised by Nato countries," he said.
"They bombed Libya and are probably the ones who killed him. There must be a judiciary commission of inquiry by the UN to determine who are really the killers of Gaddafi."
Nujoma also believes the African Union (AU) has been an unfair target of accusations for its perceived limp-wristed role in the Libyan conflict that followed other uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
The AU's peace plan for Libya was rejected outright, probably at the instigation of Nato, while other statements by the continental body virtually fell on deaf ears.
Nujoma said: "I think the passing of the Resolution 1973 by the UN made everything difficult for the AU."
"So it's unfair to blame the AU on issues that have been decided by the UN, particularly the Security Council."
He added: "It's ironic that the Security Council, which is charged with the responsibility of maintaining global peace, is actually the one that allowed the military attacks on Libya.
"That creates confusion and now we want to blame the AU.
"I think this is a lesson for Africa. Africa must unite and be able to defend itself from the aggression of outsiders. Africa has the capacity to defend itself."
He strongly condemned the manner in which the military group, Nato, wreaked havoc in Libya, leading to the forced removal and the ultimate killing of Gaddafi.
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I hope someone; somewhere will assassinate Mrs Hilary Clinton to avenge the killing of Leader Gaddafi. Mrs Clinton said, she hope Gaddafi can be captured or killed soon. I am saying, can anyone please kill Mrs Hilary Clinton, to avenge the death of Gaddafi. Can Africans be on the look for this evil woman with only one daughter, and kill her?
Muammar el-Qadhafi stood against all forces of tyranny, tirelessly campaigning for human emancipation and dignity, reflected Gerald Perreira, founding member of the former Tripoli based World Mathaba in a statement.
I am very ashamed as an Arab and as a Muslim to see the ending of Muammar el-Gadhafi, said Ali Baghdadi, Arab Journal publisher and Middle East adviser in reaction to the news.
I am ashamed to see people who claim to be Muslims act in a very savage and barbaric way. Of course the real criminal is really the United States of America, particularly Hillary Clinton, he continued.
Mr. Baghdadi was referring to the words of Mrs. Clinton days before and after the Oct. 20 killing and public mishandling of Col. Gadhafi in the last moments of his life captured on camera then replayed in the media throughout the world.
Mrs. Clinton paid a visit to the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya where she openly called for the political assassination of Leader Gadhafi two days before it happened.
We hope he can be captured or killed soon, she said. Then Mrs. Clinton came under heavy condemnation by opponents of American Libya policy after she was caught on camera gloating over the Libyan leader's death. Smiling and joyously clapping her hands, America's top diplomat quipped, We came, we saw, he died.
I hope someone; somewhere will assassinate Mrs Hilary Clinton to avenge the killing of Leader Gaddafi. Mrs Clinton said, she hope Gaddafi can be captured or killed soon. I am saying, can anyone please kill Mrs Hilary Clinton, to avenge the death of Gaddafi. Can Africans be on the look for this evil woman with only one daughter, and kill her?
Muammar el-Qadhafi stood against all forces of tyranny, tirelessly campaigning for human emancipation and dignity, reflected Gerald Perreira, founding member of the former Tripoli based World Mathaba in a statement.
I am very ashamed as an Arab and as a Muslim to see the ending of Muammar el-Gadhafi, said Ali Baghdadi, Arab Journal publisher and Middle East adviser in reaction to the news.
I am ashamed to see people who claim to be Muslims act in a very savage and barbaric way. Of course the real criminal is really the United States of America, particularly Hillary Clinton, he continued.
Mr. Baghdadi was referring to the words of Mrs. Clinton days before and after the Oct. 20 killing and public mishandling of Col. Gadhafi in the last moments of his life captured on camera then replayed in the media throughout the world.
Mrs. Clinton paid a visit to the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya where she openly called for the political assassination of Leader Gadhafi two days before it happened.
We hope he can be captured or killed soon, she said. Then Mrs. Clinton came under heavy condemnation by opponents of American Libya policy after she was caught on camera gloating over the Libyan leader's death. Smiling and joyously clapping her hands, America's top diplomat quipped, We came, we saw, he died.
THIS IS WHAT AFRICAN LEADERS SHOULD HAVE BEING DOING, OR HAVE DONE EVER; THAT', STAND FIRM AGAINST THE BRUTALITY, LIES, MANIPULATION AND DESTRUCTION OF AFICANS AND AFRICA BY THESE RACIST AND LIARS. NOW, THE FISH IS IN THE NET; THEY ARE NOW SEEING WHAT TROUBLES THEY "AFRICAN LEADERS" ARE CREATING WHEN THEY ARE NOT UNITED; THAT'S TO SAY, TODAY IS GHADDAFI, TOMORROW MIGHT BE ONE OF THEM. AFRICA, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WAKE- UP AND TOTALLY UNITE. WHEN?? THIS WHAT LATE PRESIDENT AND BROTHER GHADDAFI WAS ALL AFTER - TOTALL UNITY OF AFRICA AND AFRICAN COUNTRIES. WITH THAT SAID, THOSE AFRICAN WHO ARE SELLING OUT THEIR OWN BROTHERS AND SISTERS MUST REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT ONLY A DISGRACE BUT A SATANIC LIFESTYLES.
You speak with wisdom,fellow comrade!You speak with a lot of wisdom Gaddafi was a great man, allow me to correct myself please, Colonel Muammar el Gaddafi is a great man and will remain for histrory will absolve him. Africas time is now, fellow comrade it is now.How can we organise is the big question?Organization is the key to our success.my mail sang7michael@gmail.com.Allafrica.com is doing a great Job in highlighting all these. Regards, Africantimer
There is nothing wrong with Nujoma's concerns and accusations that NATO killed Gaddafi. That is his observations and conlusions but waht concerns me is he notes and assets that this could have been avoided if Gaddafi had embressed and implemented democratic processes in Libya. To talk about democracy when the man is dead is naive and inadequate. Through the AU, Libya could have been advised and stirred towards democracy. SADC and AU are currently looking hands chest at Zimbabwe and Swaziland readying for uprising and when autoctrats like Mugabe and Muzwati get killed by their own people they will claim it is the west.
The problem is the AU is a gathering of buddies who regularly meet to have tea and fat lunches laced with overnight banquets.
Blaming the UN is neither here nor there. The AU is a block of 54 countries who are soveriegn but cannot collectively exert influence on or even block resolutions that demonish their own but they dont and they cant because each of the leaders protects selfish interests.
As a retired statesman Nujoma must stand up to galvanize the AU into a solid and decisive institution which can loudly articulate and stand for member countries. As an emminent person he should be skirting the continent and whisper in the ears of the likes of his friend Mugabe and many who have and still abusing human rights.
SADC is there for example. A wasteful organization that has failed to protect lives in Zimbabwe in the wake of violence perpetrated by a revolutionary maniac who has disgraced the African race. I find it annoying to even have time to mention or think let alone comment about SADC. Nujoma should be at the helm of advising this club to be relevant to the regional populace through accountable leadership.
Lets not emmulate things which are wrong and lets be informed correctly to sing the correct verses in the book of sanity concerning Libya and next Zimbabwe.