20100131
allafrica

Addis Ababa — Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi yesterday failed in his bid to stay on as chairman of the African Union (AU) for another year.

He also stunned the AU summit by parading kings and traditional leaders, saying those who earlier opposed their presence, like President Yoweri Museveni, had now been convinced of their role.

While handing over power to Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika, an acrimonious Gadaffi later said, after all, it was an empty chair with mere symbolic powers since many declarations and decisions were made without his consent.

Early reports indicated that he struggled hard to retain the rotating chair, which dragged a preliminary Saturday meeting into the late hours of the night.

The Libyan leader also used his farewell speech to accuse the African Union of wasting time while failing to meet global challenges.

He again urged the African leaders to begin the process of political unification, which was a large part of his agenda.

"It was like we were building a new atomic bomb or something," he said, referring to meetings that had lasted long into the night and that he characterised as "really useless".

"The world's engine is turning into seven or ten countries and we are not aware of that," Gaddafi said, dressed in a white robe and black fur hat.

"The EU is becoming one country and we are not aware of it. We have to get united to be united. Let's be united today."

Gaddafi, supported by leaders like Senegal's Abdoulaye Wade, has been pushing for an African unity government for years, saying it is the only way Africa can develop without Western interference.

But members, led by South Africa and Ethiopia, argue the plan is impractical and would infringe on sovereignty.

After the opening speeches, there were murmurs of confusion when Gadaffi invited representatives of African kings and traditional leaders to speak.

They were not on the agenda and they surprised both security and heads of state as they walked in behind Gadaffi with their flowing robes, animal skins and staffs embroidered in gold.

No sitting provisions had been made for them by the organisers, which prompted them to hijack seats marked "First Ladies".

The leader of the delegation, Tchiffi Zif Gervais from Ivory Coast, told the heads of state that the forum of kings, sultans and traditional leaders that was established by their leader and "king of kings" Gadaffi was to unite and serve the African people.

"It is a privilege for you to have us here. I would like to thank the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, who met us and is now our honorary member. He has also agreed to write a dictionary in his local language and to help African traditional leaders."

He said their role was not to engage in politics. "Ours is not a political tool. Our role is to give support and stability, a tool for social cohesion that has already mediated in some conflicts on the continent like Guinea."

He blamed the leaders for Africa's poverty that has persisted half a century after independence, saying there is need to forge a united front with traditional leaders to address the imbalance of trade.

"Africa must develop on the basis of its own culture. Some heads of state had not understood what our role was but our king of kings took the decision and arranged for us to meet some leaders," he said.

Gadaffi stressed that there was no conflict between the role of traditional leaders and politicians, saying even Museveni has understood that after he met them.

In his opening speech, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon expressed concern over the slow pace of the implementation of the millennium development goals.

He called for the adoption of better farming technologies, saying Africa's small holder farms cannot feed Africans and produce for export.

He also appealed to Sudan's indicted president Omar al Bashir, who was in attendance, to clean up his act and organise a free and fair election and referendum to avoid the continuing displacement of people in Darfur.

The UN boss also criticised the re-emergence of unconstitutional change of government in Africa, and constitutional amendments aimed at retaining power.

On Somalia, he said they would continue to provide financial support to the Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers as the conflict has a "direct bearing on global security".