24 Aug 2011
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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru


By Paul Ohia in Lagos and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja with agency report



As pol breached the official residence of the country’s leader for 42 years, Colonel Muamar Gaddafi yesterday, the Federal Government formally recognised the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya as a legitimate representative of the northern African country’s people.



But this has drawn some flak from South Africa.



Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, told reporters in Abuja that Nigeria would back Libya in its bid to install democratic rule and enforce the rule of law.



But the Secretary-General of African National Congress (ANC), Mr. Gwede Mantashe, criticised the decision at a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.



“Nigeria is jumping the gun in recognising the rebels as representatives of Libya. The AU position stays,” Mantashe said.

But Ashiru said the NTC headed by Mr. Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil should be magnanimous in its victory and pursue a model to encourage post-conflict reconciliation and nation building.



Ashiru urged Gaddafi to take the path of honour and relinquish power immediately to allow the Libyan people decide their future and that of their country, stressing that the event of the last 48 hours showed that the regime was retreating.



Several countries – United States, United Kingdom, France, Palestine, Norway, Qatar, UAE, Sweden and 35 others – have recognised the NTC since its formation in February this year. The African Union (AU)’s Peace and Security Council met yesterday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, without issuing a statement.



The AU’s High-Level Panel on Libya, which includes leaders from South Africa, Mali, Uganda, Mauritania and Republic of Congo, will meet tomorrow, followed by a Peace and Security Council meeting the next day.



South African President Jacob Zuma yesterday said air strikes by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) went further than a United Nations resolution to protect civilians in Libya and undermined Africa’s role in seeking a ceasefire, Bloomberg reported. “The situation in Libya has been of concern as it has been accompanied by the undermining of the African continent’s role in finding a solution,” Zuma told reporters in Cape Town after meeting Ghanaian President John Atta Mills.



Mills said Ghana had not decided whether to recognise the NTC as Libya’s authority. “Ghana is studying the situation and will take an appropriate decision,” he said.



Gaddafi, a Libyan military officer, sacked a monarchy in a military coup in 1969. The man who styled himself as the brother leader abolished the Libyan Constitution of 1951, and adopted laws based on his political ideology. His nearly 42 years in power has made him the fourth longest-ruling non-royal leader since 1900, as well as the longest-ruling Arab leader.



In Tripoli, rebels overran Gaddafi’s fortified Bab al-Azizya headquarters after heavy fighting and immediately hoisted their flag to mark the symbolic end to the strongman's rule.



As rebel leaders proclaimed they had "won the battle" in Tripoli, fighters celebrated by firing automatic weapons into the air, chanting "Allahu akbar" (God is great), and raiding the armoury for ammunition, pistols and rifles. The defenders had fled, and there was no immediate word on the whereabouts of Gaddafi or his family after the insurgents late afternoon breached the defences as part of a massive assault that began in the morning.



"We have won the battle," Abdel Hakim Belhaj, the insurgents' Tripoli commander told Al-Jazeera television from inside the complex.



Bab al-Azizya had been the site chosen yesterday by Gaddafi’s son, Seif al-Islam, to make an appearance before journalists to refute reports that he had been arrested by the rebels, AFP reported.



"Tripoli is under our control. Everyone should rest assured. All is well in Tripoli," Seif said at the compound, smiling broadly and flashing the V-for-victory sign. "I am here to refute the lies," the 39-year-old said about reports of his arrest, and accused the West of waging a "technological and media war to cause chaos and terror in Libya".



Seif, like his father, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. He said Gaddafi and his entire family were still in Tripoli, denying rumours he had fled but without specifying the exact location.

His comments were backed up by the Russian head of world chess who said Gaddafi had told him in a telephone call that he was in Tripoli and did not intend to leave the country.



"I am alive and healthy. I am in Tripoli and do not intend to leave Libya. Do not believe the lying reports by Western television companies," Kirsan Ilyumzhinov quoted Gaddafi as saying in the conversation, the Interfax news agency reported. Ilyumzhinov had met Gaddafi in Tripoli in June.



In Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he had agreed with his US counterpart Barack Obama to continue military action against Gaddafi until he lays down his weapons. Sarkozy's Elysee Palace said in a statement that the two leaders had held telephonic talks during which they "agreed to pursue their military effort in support of the legitimate Libyan authorities for as long as Gaddafi and his clan have not put down their arms".



They were referring to the NATO-led bombing campaign launched in March under a UN mandate to protect civilians in Libya.

SOURCE: THISDAY NEWSPAPER
http://www.thisdayonline.com/

Nigeria and South Africa should be working together for the betterment of the continent. But on some issues now (cote d'ivoire, Libya), they appear to take divergent views. I think our foreign ministries should have co-operation and co-ordination, else foreign governments will exploit our differences in approach to play one againt another. I believe they call that " BALANCING " OR " COUNTER-WEIGHTING"

^^^
True, but there is nothing completely wrong in taking the lead while other are on the fence; fortune favours the brave. The United Nation Security Council Seat is the ultimate target, Nigeria and SA are scheming for leadership position. Leaders lead, and that what Nigeria is doing. Let SA follow for now, or remain rooted on the fence.

South Africa lost the plot long ago. Thats one country that keeps taking various position in Africa, only to change them after Nigeria has led the way or to lose to Nigeria's superior diplomatic salvo's.
Its evident in everything from Ivory Coast to Libya.

Jacob Zuma has been SA's worst nightmare, Nigeria will continue to gain from his bumbling buffoonery.

Wetin concern S' Africa concern Libyan rebel. Nig wish to recognize them and they did. SF chose not to recognize, they com the vex. Make this Zuma guy dey careful o.maybe the guy no know say na rock be zuma for naija. Rubbish.

Beaf:

South Africa lost the plot long ago. Thats one country that keeps taking various position in Africa, only to change them after Nigeria has led the way or to lose to Nigeria's superior diplomatic salvo's.
Its evident in everything from Ivory Coast to Libya.

Jacob Zuma has been SA's worst nightmare, Nigeria will continue to gain from his bumbling buffoonery.

silverstud:


South African President Jacob Zuma yesterday said air strikes by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) went further than a United Nations resolution to protect civilians in Libya and undermined Africa’s role in seeking a ceasefire, Bloomberg reported.[b] “The situation in Libya has been of concern as it has been accompanied by the undermining of the African continent’s role in finding a solution,” [/b]Zuma told reporters in Cape Town after meeting Ghanaian President John Atta Mills.

Can anyone tell me of any problem in Africa in recent times that the AU has put forward and executed a plausible solution?

Ivory Coast? Fail
Congo? Fail
Darfur? Fail
Libya? Fail

And now, Somalia? Failing.

PointB:

^^^
True, but there is nothing completely wrong in taking the lead while other are on the fence; fortune favours the brave. The United Nation Security Council Seat is the ultimate target, Nigeria and SA are scheming for leadership position. Leaders lead, and that what Nigeria is doing. Let SA follow for now, or remain rooted on the fence.

You honestly believe Nigeria is leading while SA is following? Who was negotiating with the Libyans, Russia, NATO powers etc at the height of the crisis? Who sent envoys to Syria with representatives from Brazil and India recently? Where has "leader" Nigeria been all these while 'follower" SA have been visible on the world stage? Who is the member of G20, a group gradually becoming the de facto global decision makers? The truth is they have been the leaders and we are the followers and until we acknowledge that, it will amount to delusion grandeur and we will never be able to rectify that.

^^^^

So what did SA achieve? Everyone but SA knows the futility of trying to reason with a mad man. SA missed the point, no one will remember their unsuccessful role, but they will now be seen as stumbling block by the NTC who will has become Libya de facto government. Nigeria by aligning itself with the US, UK, France has gained three important allies in the run-up to the security council position, without doing much running around. Now some may term opportunistic, but in diplomatic circle (where it matters), it is call tactical posturing or better still strategic positioning. SA is gradually isolating itself from the West, it's a void Nigeria is filling.

Now how do will win the Russians and Chinese over? Let see how it rows.

PointB:

^^^^

So what did SA achieve? Everyone but SA knows the futility of trying to reason with a mad man. SA missed the point, no one will remember their unsuccessful role, but they will now be seen as stumbling block by the NTC who will has become Libya de facto government. Nigeria by aligning itself with the US, UK, France has gained three important allies in the run-up to the security council position, without doing much running around. Now some may term opportunistic, but in diplomatic circle (where it matters), it is call tactical posturing or better still strategic positioning. SA is gradually isolating itself from the West, it's a void Nigeria is filling.

Now how do will win the Russians and Chinese over? Let see how it rows.

You think just saying Yes to everything the West says makes you a strong ally? I disagree with that. At best it makes you a junior ally and not an equal ally that is required to be a member of the security council. To be a respected player in the world stage, a country needs to define his own policies and take positions no matter whose ox is gored and that includes taking contrary views from that of the West from time to time. And because SA is differing from the West on Libya does not mean they differ with them on all other issues. The fact that they believe in something and has the ability to confront the West about it will bring them a whole new respect across board. At the end of the day, nobody respects Yes men.

^^^
I never said you say yes to all what the West is proposing, no. But know when to say agree is very important. SA said NO in Ivory Coast crisis, played little or no part in Somalia, and Sudan. And now they are isolating themselves with Libya. That is not the way to run international diplomacy. Defining your interest is very important as you said, and I can say what Nigeria did in Ivory Coast issue, and what we are doing in Libya serves our interest; fortunately too, it serves the interest of our ally.

Why wont SA support the move to remove a dictator, and enthrone democracy? Well, only SA knows!