I read on AllAfrica.com today that President Obama of the USA has invited 47 African Leaders to Washington next month – except the presidents of CAR, Eritrea, Sudan, Western Sahara and Zimbabwe.
The Egyptian General, who overthrew the democratically elected president last year and made himself president this year, has been invited. And so has President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, who is on trial at the International Criminal Court for “crimes against humanity”. Whereas like most people I do not know what is going on in Western Sahara and CAR, I see no reason (reason that will withstand the test of hypocrisy) for the exclusion of the Presidents of Eritrea, Sudan and Zimbabwe. Especially Zimbabwe, whose President Robert Mugabe, remains the most popular African Leader – with the ordinary person on the African Street.
I believe that African Leaders should respond as they did a couple of years ago when the EU tried to prevent Mugabe from attending the Lisbon Africa-EU Summit. Africa then said, “No Mugabe, No Summit”. And the EU relented. African Leaders should say the same to Obama: “No Mugabe, No Summit”. What’s more, African Leaders have nothing to lose: the US invitation is merely a response to China’s lavish hosting of African Leaders in Beijing a couple of years ago.
Beijing continues to invest massively in Africa, having built, as a gift, the superb African Union HQ – and now have signed the massive Kenyan Railway contract. The US is broke, and is totally indebted to China having spent all their money on wars all over the world. Sure, individual African Leaders cannot say “No” to Uncle Sam because of the risk of a coup ala-carte Egypt, but if Africa Leaders were to say “No” as a body, there is nothing Uncle Sam can do. Uncle Sam can’t coup everyone. Come on then, African Leaders, say “No We Can’t” as a solidly unified group!
On a final note, if African Leaders refuse to listen to my advice, and get coup-ed anyway while dining at the Black President’s White House, it will be a kind of Karma! (Numeiry of Sudan got coup-ed while with Regan in the White House – the coup probably organized by Regan’s CIA!!!)
D J Halake, London, UK.
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You should be fighting for more dictators be damned from attending the summit but not supporting all of them to attend. Your good friend will be coming and we will be welcoming him again in America. Don’t you have any conscience? America should add Yaya Jammeh, General al Sisi and Ali Bongo to the list of countries not invited.
Dida at it again. This guy has no conscience at all Bilahi. Mugabe and Jammeh 6&9,they are brutal dictators who destroyed the economy of their respective countries. Only a mad man will support such scums. I don’t know about your hero Mugabe ,but tell your buddy Jammeh that NewYork was just a side show. If he dares to come to DC,a rude awakening awaits him.
I defnitely buy your idea, Dida. This should be a window of opportunity to showcase African unity, but America’s dirty politics won’t allow them to say ‘No Mugabe, no summit’.
Come on Mr. Halake. Go read some history. You rooting for Robert Mugabe? You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. Please read some Zimbabwe history before you open you insult our senses here!! Mugabe has been in power since 1980. And what has Zimbabwe got to show for it but extreme poverty and suffering? How can you be “critical” of Jammeh and support Mugabe who has been in power since 1980 and is 90+ years old but still clinging to power? Give us a break man.