S’Africa Kicks as Nigeria Recognises Libyan Rebels

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru

 

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.