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Gaddafi and the International Bird Net: A Case of the Warrant of Arrest by the International Criminal Court

There have been different opinions from Africans on the expected war crime allegation levied by the International Criminal Court on Gaddafi and two other Libyans on the issue of crime against humanity. It is now a reality that the world is a global village and that no leader can misbehave outside the standard international practice. It was Charles Taylor who strongly believed that no day will he be put behind bar for his outrageous action against the people of Sierra Leone. Truly, he was handcuffed, brought to Monrovia and chained like a common criminal in The Hague. Now, the Sudanese President Omar Bashir is on the run but there will be no escape for him. The time has come for the World to ensure that all men of the human race to be treated with dignity and pride.

How could Mohammed Gaddafi call his people cockroaches and rats? He ensured that they were killed despite their peaceful refusal to live in the dungeon of suffering for forty two years. This is completely an inhumane for any civilized government. Apart from his awkward attitude in his country, he extended support to dictators in other parts of the African continent. For instance, during the testimony at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Liberia, most of the rebel commanders mentioned that they were trained in Libya. These rebels disintegrated the Liberian society in every direction. The rebels made sure that over two hundred thousand Liberian died and the country is now a failed state. Up to date, the Liberians are still suffering from the scourge of the civil war.

Indeed, Gaddafi has landed in the International bird net. It is a reality that the civilized world can also discipline any leader who misbehaved. It is not only the issue for African leaders. A typical example is the Boss of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn who was in custody on charges on sexual assault with a hotel maid. He was in fact refused bail. This is exactly the type of justice that is needed to protect the dignity of mankind in the world. Whatever judgment that will come thereafter, justice is being taken in a fair manner.   Gaddafi will have to learn that the world is global village and no man is an island. Let this go as a lesson to African leaders who enjoy inflicting suffering on their people.

The World is ready to regiment those who will engage in such a practice. Let it not be conceptualized that they will withdraw from any major international organizations. This will be unthinkable for any dictator. African Leaders must learn to treat their people with respect and pride. The world is watching and ready to apprehend any evil doer. The International bird net has been made for such a leader who will go contrary to international regulations. I am of the conviction that one day most African leaders will learn to be more positive in dealing with their people. Why could Gaddafi ever think that the world will watch him destroyed his people and go free? The time is now;

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Between Muammar El-Gaddafi and the African Union

MUAMMAR EL-GADDAFI AND

Tales coming out of Libya, a country that has been under the leadership of one-man rule for the 42 years are those of anger, frustration, popular uprising and death. The world has been lured to believe that all is well with the Libya’s economy, but recent occurrences have shown the opposite. Gaddafi has been anti West since he came into power and established his Jamariya government in 1969. He has waged wars on several fronts with the West. He is an ardent advocate for one Africa, where all autonomous nations would lose their sovereignty for a united African state.

The early years of the last decade was spent by Muammar Gaddafi in touring many African countries canvassing for support of African Heads of state and Presidents for a United States of Africa. Reports had it that he single-handedly contributed US$1million to fund the formation of the African Union (AU) to replace the Organization of African Unity (OAU) founded in 1963. He wanted to be the leader of a body that would be the equal of the United States of America (USA), where he will wield unlimited powers above other countries.

Nonetheless, Gaddafi’s dream for a Pan-African body, just like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, came to fruition. However, his personal ambition for a stronger union and weaker nation-states was dashed as Nigeria and South Africa opted for what some writers have referred to as ‘gradual incrementalism’( a situation whereby sovereign nations were allowed on their own to be integrated into the regional body but still retain their nationhood). This singular move clipped his ‘wings’ and tamed his fulsome ambition. They did this because he was never to be trusted.

Meanwhile, considering the manner he has conducted himself recently, does it show any sign of a leader who has his people at heart? He referred to the citizens as cockroaches, people under the influence of drugs and that he would fight streets to streets to live and die in Libya. What kind of leader is he; killing the same people he is now violently fighting to defend and protect? Ghaddafi should be told that patriotism is not by force.

Sordid enough, the leadership of the African Union has not yet led a high-power delegation to Libya to neither stop Ghaddafi nor condemn his scorch-to earth massacre using paid snipers. It is still unclear if he has some of these African leaders supporting him underground, because many of them are like him. Even the manner in which they are responding to the evacuation of their citizenry has left much to be desired. African leaders who are Ghaddafi-copies, who have made life miserable for their people over the years, should expect the Tunisia, Egypt and Libya-type of change soon.

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