Khaddafi: We love him, they hate him

  1. Posted on Wednesday 19 December 2007 - 16:59
    John M
    Image of John M
    The visit of the Libya leader to Europe has shown the diverging sentiments that the citizens of this world are having vis-à-vis Khaddafi. While most Africans consider him as the father and promoter of the new form of panafricanism, most westerners still perceive him as a godfather of terrorism.

    While in France earlier this month, French politicians from both the opposition and the ruling party showed open hostility to Khaddafi. He was supposed to address them in the prestigious Pantheon palace, but when he came, none of the MPs was there, which reduced his visit to a few-minute meeting with the parliament’s speaker in the latter’s office.

    This is not only a diplomatic scandal but also an insult to Africa. The scandal is of course quickly forgotten because of Sarkozy’s friendlier, business-motivated attitude. Media reported that Khaddafi signed contracts worth billions of euro, especially in the nuclear power and defence sectors.

    On the other hand, while politicians were trying to humiliate Khaddafi, the Africa diaspora hailed him as a genuine hero of Africa. Addressing them at the UNESCO headquarters, Khaddafi rejected the human right abuse allegations and pointed to France as the worst right violators.

    He told the excited audience that they had not the same rights as the British or Belgians living in France; that they are ill-treated on a daily basis; that they could be kicked out at any time and in inhumane conditions. Khaddafi was applauded by all those Africans who saw in him their spokesman.

    The contrast between the views of Africans and those of Westerners is obvious and pushes to ask an number of questions. Why is Khaddafi now being befriended despite his controversial past? One of the possible answers is that the globalisation of world economy is putting China in a position to conquer each centimetre square declared undesirable by the West. The strategy is thus to remove the ‘unwanted status’ from Libya, very soon on Sudan and Zimbabwe, before China settles.

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