AU to send its envoy to Libya THE African Union (AU) will soon establish a liaison office in Libya to be headed by a special representative, the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr Jean Ping, has said in a statement. Dr Ping said AU has followed closely the latest developments in Libya, including the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and some of his sons and senior aides, in circumstances of armed violence. “Since the onset of the crisis in Libya, the AU has called for and tirelessly worked towards, a solution that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people for democracy, respect for human rights and good governance. “Today more than ever before, there is need for the new Libyan authorities to spare no effort in ensuring that those aspirations are fulfilled. “In this respect and in line with the decision adopted by the Peace and Security Council on 20 October 2011, the AU is taking steps for the early establishment of a Liaison Office in Tripoli to be headed by a Special Representative.” “This step, together with the effective participation of Libya in the work of the AU organs, including the PSC, will go a long way in assisting the country to step up efforts aimed at completing all actions needed to bring about lasting peace, stability, security, development and democracy to Libya,” reads the statement in part. Meanwhile, some politicians and academics have warned that overthrowing leaders through the barrel of the gun is dangerous and would propel endless conflicts in Africa. Speaking strongly against violence to unseat leaders in Africa and elsewhere through international military coalitions like NATO, the veteran politician, Dr Chrisant Mzindakaya said the approach was absolutely wrong, undemocratic and should not be entertained. “First of all I support our Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Membe who said that Tanzania does not rejoice violence or bloodshed. “The Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi might have personal weaknesses but the pounding of Tripoli by NATO and killing of innocent civilians was inhuman, brutal and unethical approach,” Dr Mzindakaya said. He challenged African leaders to wake up and stand together to raise a common voice to say ‘NO’ to the practice that grossly undermined the role of African Union (AU). We all remember the role played by AU to peaceful resolve the political deadlock in Ivory Coast, when the defeated President Laurent Gbagbo refused to leave office to a democratically elected president. “AU intervened, negotiated peace and ironed out the differences without killing Gbagbo. The wave is not a laughable matter and it can happen to any leader disliked by the west,” he observed. Explaining why he believed violence was unfeasible and leading to more bloodshed than nurturing peace, the veteran politician said the imposed leaders might not necessarily be the choice of the people and in most cases the ‘new’ administrations would serve the interests of their masters. “Africa is the richest continent on earth. For example, the agricultural potential of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is so huge that if properly utilised it can feed the entire continent. “But wars instigated by foreign agents for personal gains undermined development of the continent. Wars are harmful,” he warned. Dr Mzindakaya, however, suspected that NATO played bigotry under the pretext of promoting democracy, giving an example of Russia where the national leadership (presidency and the position of the prime minister) remained in the hands of two individuals but not commented about it. Drawing experience from Iraq, the politician predicted uncertainties in Libya before elections were organised, because political reconciliation would depend on how the National Transitional Council (NTC) and rebel fighters treat Gaddafi’s loyalists. His tribesmen and allied forces would remain targets for vengeance leading to more violence. Political analyst Dr Samuel Mboya from Open University of Tanzania (OUT) criticised rebel fighters for killing Gaddafi, instead of taking him to court to answer charges on alleged atrocities. “What we have witnessed in Libya is the worst form of imperialism. France that ruled Libya during colonial era has made a brutal comeback in collaboration with military allies to siphon oil from Africa. “This is happening because the west is rest assured that there are no more strong leaders in the continent who can raise voice against them. Mwalimu Julius Nyerere could stand up and boldly tell off the Americans,” Dr Mboya said. Human rights activist Ms Halima Hussein briefly said; “Since the international community opted for silence on direct interference of leadership by the west, similar situations can happen to any other leader with ideas different from what NATO cared for,” she warned. “We learnt that the rebels who unfortunately failed to unite in battle are unlikely to be serious in governance. “While the NTC has managed to speak with one voice most of the time since its creation, rebel armed forces are divided between Muslim fundamentalists, secularists, tribalists, Arabs and Berbers, easterners and westerners,” added Ms Hussein.