DAKAR (Reuters) - African nations should join forces to create a one-million-strong army to protect the continent and confront outsiders like NATO and China, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Tuesday.
Gaddafi, well known for his forthright rhetoric, has acquired growing influence in Africa but his ambition to build a united states of Africa is not shared by the continent's biggest powers.
"National militaries alone cannot save countries. Africa should have one army with one million soldiers," Gaddafi said in a speech in the Senegalese capital.
He said the joint force would "guard the borders and seas, protect Africa's independence and confront NATO, China, France, Britain and other countries."


Speaking at an event called the World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures, Gaddafi also attacked opponents of his long-standing proposal for a unified African government.
"They should leave home, abandon their countries and go and live in the capitals of the capitalist, imperialist countries which once occupied Africa," he said in his speech.
Gaddafi has been pushing for an African unity government for years, saying it is the only way Africa can develop without Western interference.
His ideas have had a sympathetic response in some states, helped by his reputation in parts of the continent as champion of the developing world and also by the millions of dollars in aid his oil-exporting country gives to Africa.
But many African leaders, especially in the bigger economies, are sceptical. They say they cannot be expected to cede sovereignty to an African bloc only a few decades after wresting it from their colonial rulers.
(Reporting by Ali Shuaib; writing by Christian Lowe; editing by Tim Pearce)

by Reuters
do you think He is making any sense

This guy is making good sense time after time.Is he the only African president not scare of the West?

Please, if you believe that you'll believe anything

Gaddafi's proposals are usually BS, and geared towards wrestling power from the ARAB ARAB and Western nations/companies, for the benefit of people like him. How can we have a 1 million man army when the armies are busy overthrowing and killing their own people? Gaddafi should be looking at ways to authentically restructure Africa to reflect its true boundaries instead of artificial ones it currently has.

mens dept:

Please, if you believe that you'll believe anything

Gaddafi's proposals are usually BS, and geared towards wrestling power from the ARAB ARAB and Western nations/companies, for the benefit of people like him. How can we have a 1 million man army when the armies are busy overthrowing and killing their own people? Gaddafi should be looking at ways to authentically restructure Africa to reflect its true boundaries instead of artificial ones it currently has.

Oh so i get it, don't wrestle power from the arabs and the west just let them have it and control us.Yeah i get it quite clear.

I can't believe anybody even takes this guy seriously anymore. He is simply there for comic relief and the only thing more annoying than his rants are the way he always tries to sell himself as a spokesperson for Africa. How can a man who seems to look down on anything south of the sahara be talking of African unity? The last thing Africa (united or not) needs is another despot. The world needs to stop giving this man relevance.

Sky Blue:

I can't believe anybody even takes this guy seriously anymore. He is simply there for comic relief and the only thing more annoying than his rants are the way he always tries to sell himself as a spokesperson for Africa. How can a man who seems to look down on anything south of the sahara be talking of African unity? The world needs to stop giving this man relevance.

So who would you prefer or like to offer this idea?

Sky Blue:

I can't believe anybody even takes this guy seriously anymore. He is simply there for comic relief and the only thing more annoying than his rants are the way he always tries to sell himself as a spokesperson for Africa. How can a man who seems to look down on anything south of the sahara be talking of African unity? The last thing Africa (united or not) needs is another despot. The world needs to stop giving this man relevance.

May God punish gadafi, he is not my leader,

chyz:

So who would you prefer or like to offer this idea?

Definitely not Ghadaffi. No African leader immediately comes to mind (I mean hey, the pool for good leaders on the continent isn't that deep). Even Jonathan or Zuma proposing something like this would have been less repulsive. Ghadaffi does not in anyway have Africa's interest at heart, only his personal ambition (my opinion).

Gaddafi is no African leader. He is an Arab leader, who believes in Pan-Arabism. The man said he wanted Arabs to move to Africa, since there is plenty of space on the continent. This man does not have Africa's best interest at heart. And any African who believes his words are a fool.

No African should ever believe an Arab. The Arab slave trade was worse than the European slave trade, but no one talks about it. It was much more extensive, and it had a huge impact on the East Africa region. And it still exist today. Go to Mauritania and you will see slavery alive and well. Even in Sudan as well.

Omenani:

No African should ever believe an Arab. The Arab slave trade was worse than the European slave trade, but no one talks about it. It was much more extensive, and it had a huge impact on the East Africa region. And it still exist today. Go to Mauritania and you will see slavery alive and well. Even in Sudan as well.

wrong wrong wrong

he is one of the africans that started AU and it began in his country,,,so where do u get ur information from

alj harem1:

wrong wrong wrong

he is one of the africans that started AU and it began in his country,,,so where do u get your information from

"We don’t know what will happen, what will be the reaction of the white and Christian Europeans faced with this influx of starving and ignorant Africans," Col Gaddafi said in Rome, August 30, 2010.

Don't mind that goat that call himself gadafi, we don't want his unified Africa. we in west Africa only want a unified west Africa for now. God help us.

alj harem1:

wrong wrong wrong

he is one of the africans that started AU and it began in his country,,,so where do u get your information from

Including Ghadaffi in any discourse involving pan africanism is oxymoronic and a terrible insult to the very idealogy.

We already know Gaddafi has a problem with Nigeria and Ethiopia. Even though I dislike OBJ very much, the mand stood up against Gaddafi on my occasions. You cannot trust Gaddaffi.

-Omenani

seyibrown said:

Ghaddafi is not a man to be trusted at all! Nooooooooooo way.   What do we need an ARICAN ARMY FOR? Who are fighting against? OR WHO IS GHADDAFI FIGHTING AGAINST? Uncooperative non-arab africans, perhaps? Individual african leaders make quite an enviable mess of their respective countries as it is! It'll be 'african-wide' 'govpression' before you know it!

You're wrong in your assessment of the principle of African unification.

It CAN work. There certainly is a case for African unification in order to better control the continent's resources.

It's not like we're THAT many. We're only a billion strong, yet China is 2 billion. One country, one govt, one direction. China was once upon a time split up into several ''independent'' states. Their unification under Confucian principles and a single Chinese lingua franca - Mandarin - led to a compete change in the structure and direction of the region, and made them immensely more powerful and influential than they would ever have been if split into say 55 'independent' states, like Africa.

So YES, there IS a case for African political/military unification. Shame it's coming from Ghadaffi, who it must be said, is a fairly dodgy character.

I would not discount the possibility of African unification occurring in the future, and would in fact, highly recommend it does.

The mathematics is simple.

There are several vital minerals and other natural resources exported to the  world that are often highly concentrated in, or unique to Africa. Rather than the current situation where several African nations flood the market with their products, competing for buyers and undercutting one another thus driving prices down, and in effect becoming Price Takers on the international market, a unified govt in control of ALL the continent's resources, creating a mighty continental cartel,  can name its price, dictate price by controlling production, and when necessary, create artificial scarcity by limiting production of one mineral or the other, thus driving up prices.

In effect we become Price Givers, and extract FAR greater returns for the export of the continent's huge resources.

The single African currency would be very strong, backed as it would be by untold natural riches from gold to diamonds and oil.

In fact, nothing scares the hell out of western capitals than the thought of a single, united African nation and government.

It changes EVERYTHING.

Look, I'll tell you something. The reason a tiny, resourceless country like Britain can impose economic sanctions on ZIMBABWE, a country flowing with nature's bounties from gold to diamonds, is African Division.

By right Britain should have NO BUSINESS denying any part of Africa trade or economic access.

Can Britain impose sanctions on any part of China? Even a small village there?

Nope.

Because China is a unified continent with a central government.

Instead Britain is wary of China imposing sanctions on them, and accordingly, tread very carefully in all their dealings with China.

There is immense power in unity!

For it to work though, there would have to be an ideological unifier of some sort. Perhaps a new religion, a new philosophy, a new economic ideology, a new racial ideology (Pan Africanism perhaps?) Something must serve as a unifying factor, for this to work.

This man is just a fo0l. One million man army to fight who?
U want to unite 100 sh1tholes to make one big toilet

BTW Chinese are very useful to us so i wouldn't welcome that idea, we can certainly learn from them, be it history or technology/expertise.
Gaadafi can't be serious. whatever is he on lately?.

1 million against drones or is it a million against a billion army strong    (senseless), anyway, i do have to give him credit for the Unity idea but that needs to have preset conditions like - countries can only join if they treat their citizens right, create jobs, justice prevails etc

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if Africa doesn't act right, it is Africa's fault; protect yours and people will help you protect it,ruin yours and people will help you ruin it too

Wars are not fought by number of men anymore but by sophistication of weaponry.

Gaddaffi should go and find his voice in an Arab forum.

African Union is making progress and don't need to be derailed by the likes of Gaddaffi with his rants

Sharon f said:

One million man army to fight who?
U want to unite 100 sh1tholes to make one big toilet

Sometimes I feel we need to ban some of you females from political discussions. Your thinking is so shallow and uninformed it's outrageous. Why don't you just stick to things you really know about, like fashion and celebrities?

one million soldiers vs one nuclear bomb =? please fill the gap.

ROSSIKE:

Sharon f said:

Sometimes I feel we need to ban some of you females from political discussions. Your thinking is so shallow and uninformed it's outrageous. Why don't you just stick to things you really know about, like fashion and celebrities?

Chauvinist!
But seriously, that was uncalled for.

  @ ROSSIKE, you are 100% on the money with this one. (Sarcastically) Apparently, only Europeans can achieve a union of sorts or more integration because they are SUPERHUMAN (lol).

Seriously, African time has got to stop, always arriving late after the event, I was always taught that ‘you snooze, you lose’, however the problem here is that we are still losing. It isn’t as if the concept of ‘AU’ is a new concept and only linked to Ghadaffi, Nkrumah was espousing this in the late 50s and 60s.

ROSSIKE:

seyibrown said:

You're wrong in your assessment of the principle of African unification.

It CAN work. There certainly is a case for African unification in order to better control the continent's resources.

It's not like we're THAT many. We're only a billion strong, yet China is 2 billion. One country, one govt, one direction. China was once upon a time split up into several ''independent'' states. Their unification under Confucian principles and a single Chinese lingua franca - Mandarin - led to a compete change in the structure and direction of the region, and made them immensely more powerful and influential than they would ever have been if split into say 55 'independent' states, like Africa.

So YES, there IS a case for African political/military unification. Shame it's coming from Ghadaffi, who it must be said, is a fairly dodgy character.

I would not discount the possibility of African unification occurring in the future, and would in fact, highly recommend it does.

The mathematics is simple.

There are several vital minerals and other natural resources exported to the  world that are often highly concentrated in, or unique to Africa. Rather than the current situation where several African nations flood the market with their products, competing for buyers and undercutting one another thus driving prices down, and in effect becoming Price Takers on the international market, a unified govt in control of ALL the continent's resources, creating a mighty continental cartel,  can name its price, dictate price by controlling production, and when necessary, create artificial scarcity by limiting production of one mineral or the other, thus driving up prices.

In effect we become Price Givers, and extract FAR greater returns for the export of the continent's huge resources.

The single African currency would be very strong, backed as it would be by untold natural riches from gold to diamonds and oil.

In fact, nothing scares the hell out of western capitals than the thought of a single, united African nation and government.

It changes EVERYTHING.

Look, I'll tell you something. The reason a tiny, resourceless country like Britain can impose economic sanctions on ZIMBABWE, a country flowing with nature's bounties from gold to diamonds, is African Division.

By right Britain should have NO BUSINESS denying any part of Africa trade or economic access.

Can Britain impose sanctions on any part of China? Even a small village there?

Nope.

Because China is a unified continent with a central government.

Instead Britain is wary of China imposing sanctions on them, and accordingly, tread very carefully in all their dealings with China.

There is immense power in unity!

For it to work though, there would have to be an ideological unifier of some sort. Perhaps a new religion, a new philosophy, a new economic ideology, a new racial ideology (Pan Africanism perhaps?) Something must serve as a unifying factor, for this to work.

It CAN work. There certainly is a case for African unification in order to better control the continent's resources

Control of continent resources under a single government? are you kidding? get your brain gears on and think about the ramifications mate!

It's not like we're THAT many. We're only a billion strong, yet China is 2 billion. One country, one govt, one direction. China was once upon a time split up into several ''independent'' states. Their unification under Confucian principles and a single Chinese lingua franca - Mandarin - led to a compete change in the structure and direction of the region, and made them immensely more powerful and influential than they would ever have been if split into say 55 'independent' states, like Africa.

Because China is a[b] unified continent [/b]with a central government.

Bullshyt, China is a country not a continent, and the Chinese government wouldn't have subscribed to any shyt like a United Asian nation!

What is wrong with you people?  Nigeria as a country is witnessing untold unrest stemming from clashes from various groups/sectional/ethnical background, each laying claim to superiority on governance, natural resources, etc,  . . .now the thought of a massive African Nation? that's just scary!. . . .  .Have you read the horror tales from South Africa? Somlia? Yeme? etc etc

Does it cross your mind that Nigeria is actually one of the few "peaceful" African countries and peharps the only thing we stand to gain is an increased population of terrorists and groups who another 10/20 years down the line, will be laying ancestral claims to our most important resources?

In fact, nothing scares the hell out of western capitals than the thought of a single, united African nation and government.

Seriously?

For it to work though, there would have to be an ideological unifier of some sort. Perhaps a new religion, a new philosophy, a new economic ideology, a new racial ideology (Pan Africanism perhaps?) Something must serve as a unifying factor, for this to work.

Are you kidding? why don't you try achieving that in Nigeria first. . .I'd pay you a dollar for each person you are able to convince about a new religion, or a new racial ideology!

texazzpete:

Chauvinist!
But seriously, that was uncalled for.

houvest link=topic=569014.msg7345373#msg7345373 date=1292478158:

one million soldiers vs one nuclear bomb =? please fill the gap.

texazzpete:

Chauvinist!
But seriously, that was uncalled for.

rosikeke: you has just sh owned same qualities of ghadafi here, by going against female contributor to this thread
ghadafi represents fight against humanity,freedom, and justice
and his interest is to unified Africa for his own ambition,he is scared of democracy.

I dont get him. First, he says Nigeria should be divided, and now he wants ALL of africa united

MShittu:

I dont get him. First, he says Nigeria should be divided, and now he wants ALL of africa united

Ghaddafi is a hypocrite.he wants to rule Africa and a united Nigeria is the only threat he faces.

figure out the rest

violent said:

Quote
It CAN work. There certainly is a case for African unification in order to better control the continent's resources

Control of continent resources under a single government? are you kidding? get your brain gears on and think about the ramifications mate!

No ''mate'', you get your brains into gear, if you have any.

Quote
It's not like we're THAT many. We're only a billion strong, yet China is 2 billion. One country, one govt, one direction. China was once upon a time split up into several ''independent'' states. Their unification under Confucian principles and a single Chinese lingua franca - Mandarin - led to a compete change in the structure and direction of the region, and made them immensely more powerful and influential than they would ever have been if split into say 55 'independent' states, like Africa.

Quote
Because China is a unified continent with a central government.

Bullshyt, China is a country not a continent, and the Chinese government wouldn't have subscribed to any shyt like a United Asian nation!

Like I suspected, you lack the interest or the smarts to research the history of China, a place that was as divided as Africa was, with as many competing ethnicities. The Chinese sat down and thought about consolidating their position on earth, and ''the country of'' China is the result. It isn't too tasking on your brain to ask that you similarly think, strategize, or project for the future of Africa is it?

What is wrong with you people?  Nigeria as a country is witnessing untold unrest stemming from clashes from various groups/sectional/ethnical background, each laying claim to superiority on governance, natural resources, etc,  . . .now the thought of a massive African Nation? that's just scary!. . . .  .Have you read the horror tales from South Africa? Somlia? Yeme? etc etc

Early Chinese independent fiefdoms and states witnessed a lot of corruption, internal conflict etc. When they were united under a single nation and powerful central government, everything changed.

Quote
In fact, nothing scares the hell out of western capitals than the thought of a single, united African nation and government.


Seriously?

No. Unseriously. Ewu.

Quote
For it to work though, there would have to be an ideological unifier of some sort. Perhaps a new religion, a new philosophy, a new economic ideology, a new racial ideology (Pan Africanism perhaps?) Something must serve as a unifying factor, for this to work.

Are you kidding? why don't you try achieving that in Nigeria first

We are not talking about ''Nigeria first''.  In fact the idea of a common African ideology defeats the concept of 'independent' nation states.

. . .I'd pay you a dollar for each person you are able to convince about a new religion, or a new racial ideology![/b]

Ask the Chinese how they managed to replace a culture of drunkenness, sloth, corruption, conflict, and self hate with the the abiding principles of Confucianism.

It's called social engineering.

It can be done.