At the time of writing this post President Jacob Zuma had just finished a meeting with Muarmar Gaddafi of Libya. He emerged from the meeting to declare that Gaddafi was ready for a ceasefire and that Libyans should be given the opportunity to solve their own problem. Both declarations are highly problematic given that, in the first place, the rebels have rightly declared that Gaddafi is not to be part of the future of Libya. As far as the rebels are concerned, Gaddafi has lost all legitimacy. Negotiating with him is therefore a nonstarter. I am surprised that President Zuma would embark on such a mission which was already doomed from the start. In the second place, saying that Libyans should be allowed to solve their own problem betrays a misunderstanding of what is already going on. Libyans are already dealing with their problems - many of them are asking Gaddafi to leave power. Period. Zuma's declaration is therefore a code that means Gaddafi should be allowed to stay in power.
Anyone familiar with African history of the last fifty years or so would understand why Zuma sees Gaddafi as a friend - Gaddafi helped the African National Congress (ANC) during the struggle against apartheir in South Africa. That help has endeared Gaddafi to many in the ANC. However, in the struggle against apartheid, Gaddafi was on the right side of history. In fact, Gaddafi was on the side of the rebels rather than on the side of the government in power. Gaddafi supported those who were rebeling against an unjust and oppressive apartheid regime. In the story that is unfolding in Libya, Gaddafi is the oppressor. This is what the ANC fails to decipher. Rather than supporting Gaddafi to the death, the ANC would be wise to align itself on the right side of history - the side of the rebels. If Libyans were left alone to solve their own problem - the ouster of Gaddafi - Gaddafi would have massacred most of his people. In fact, even during the struggle against apartheid, South Africans were not left alone to solve their problem. They received help from all over the world. The interpretation of history given here is of course very different from that espoused by President Zuma and the ANC. That is why they are now aligning themselves with the wrong side of history. When Gaddafi shall have been defeated (as he surely will), those who are now known as the rebels would see the ANC government as quite unfriendly. Left with those he once opposed, President Zuma and the ANC will be placed in the awkward position of working with people they had opposed. In order to avoid doing any further damage to the future relations between Libya and South Africa, President Zuma should simply go back to South Africa. He has no business being in Libya right now.
Anyone familiar with African history of the last fifty years or so would understand why Zuma sees Gaddafi as a friend - Gaddafi helped the African National Congress (ANC) during the struggle against apartheir in South Africa. That help has endeared Gaddafi to many in the ANC. However, in the struggle against apartheid, Gaddafi was on the right side of history. In fact, Gaddafi was on the side of the rebels rather than on the side of the government in power. Gaddafi supported those who were rebeling against an unjust and oppressive apartheid regime. In the story that is unfolding in Libya, Gaddafi is the oppressor. This is what the ANC fails to decipher. Rather than supporting Gaddafi to the death, the ANC would be wise to align itself on the right side of history - the side of the rebels. If Libyans were left alone to solve their own problem - the ouster of Gaddafi - Gaddafi would have massacred most of his people. In fact, even during the struggle against apartheid, South Africans were not left alone to solve their problem. They received help from all over the world. The interpretation of history given here is of course very different from that espoused by President Zuma and the ANC. That is why they are now aligning themselves with the wrong side of history. When Gaddafi shall have been defeated (as he surely will), those who are now known as the rebels would see the ANC government as quite unfriendly. Left with those he once opposed, President Zuma and the ANC will be placed in the awkward position of working with people they had opposed. In order to avoid doing any further damage to the future relations between Libya and South Africa, President Zuma should simply go back to South Africa. He has no business being in Libya right now.
No comments:
Post a Comment