Countries on the Cheap and the AU

Very few approached the issue with complexity and caution.

Revealed:The AU was Close to a Crisis

A serious division within the AU that could have potentially splintered and destroyed the continental organization has been aborted as late as the end of January. It is widely known that the transformation of the AU Commission into an Authority of the Union has taken a central part of the discussions in the last African Heads of State's Summit. Though in principle all African governments share the Libyan leader's passion for a political union for the continent, many are uncomfortable with his posturing. Clearly, the most popular political project in African is African Unity. Despite the fact that there is consensus on African Unity, there have been differences on the methodology and approaches needed to achieve it. The AU Heads of States Summit that took place in Addis on January 30-31st witnessed the biggest challenge and threat faced by the organization since its revitalization in 2003. Libyan leader Muamar Ghadafi was determined to extend his term of chairing the AU for another year in violation of rules and regulations, citing the completion of his political project, the African Union Government. Though his maneuver was initially considered just a bluff, it brought the organization close to collapse when around two dozens of African countries threatened to vote for the extension of Ghadafi’s term in unceremonial and irresponsible manner.

Reportedly, several African governments, mainly from North, West and Central African were bought and bribed or probably blackmailed by Muamar Ghadafi to buy into his ‘African Union Government Agenda Now’. Paradoxically the problem goes back to January 2009 when a Southern African country, Malawi stumbled and gave Ghadafi his way. The previous Malawian government surprised and even shocked its neighbors and the regional block by withdrawing its candidacy, reportedly under financial and diplomatic pressure from Libya. This happened at the last minute when the candidates where presented to the Summit, leaving no choice to the Southern African bloc. The chance spoiled by Malawi was a sub-regional term belonging to the whole Southern African region. The trade off between Malawi and Libya was done in full secrecy and was a total mystery to SADC. SADC had at one point even threatened to expel Malawi from the regional grouping if it fails to live up to the expectations of the region. As much as they were angered by it, leaders of SADC countries were not ready to embarrass the countries involved and allowed for the usurpation of the chairmanship by Libya.This time around they were not ready to allow it. Ghadafi's chairmanship was a source of consternation to many in the AU as he used unconventional means to run the organization and pursue his wildest dreams. Not surprisingly, the unofficial policy of the AU has been to shelf serious projects and sits tight until his term expires. While this has been the case, Ghadafi wanted to stay for another term using countries on the cheap.

As far as realizing the African Union Government is concerned the conflict between the unionists and gradualists is as old the history of the AU itself. A kind of diplomatic turmoil has been simmering up to the eve of the recent AU Heads of States Summit in Addis Ababa. Some leading and determined African countries were already in a row to play their role and make last minute attempt in a bid to stop Ghadafi derail organizational constitution and unity. Many of them approached the issue with complexity and caution .They include South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, and the host country, Ethiopia. However this time around it was SADC which took the bold move to avert the crisis. Luckliy, there was a change of leadership in Malawi too. Southern African Development Community (SADC) presidents unanimously resolved that it is time Malawi assumes the chairmanship. The SADC heads of state nominated Bingu wa Mutharika at their regional summit in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in August 2009 to represent them during the elections of the AU chairman. The new leadership in Maseru was ready to play that role, though at the cost of some diplomatic problems with Libya. However, events will show this was not enough, as many countries were ready to side with Tripoli, posing a major threat to the survival of the continental organization.

Facing a real diplomatic lodjam, some countries and regional blocks had to resort to extraordinary diplomatic threats and political moves to avert what they considered as an imminent disaster. SADC countries threatened to withdraw from the AU unless some ‘special’ group of countries withdraw their motion in support of Ghadafi’s move. There was even talk of leaving the AU for good and focus on strengthening sub-regional groupings as a perfect building bloc approach to African unity. As much as it helped avert the crisis, the position of SADC was the most extraordinary development in the contemporary history of Africa. As to the countries on the cheap, they may still be hanging around to cause other problems and fizzle out the most needed and realistic reforms in the continent.