My Lay Point of View: Lybia “Due”! “Due ne amane hunu”(Sorry to Libya)

Thanks to facebook and friend's updates, news of Gadafi's death hit me on Thursday 20th of October 2011. I logged on to the internet for confirmation; lo and behold, pictures accompanied news of jubilation in Libya over the ousting and subsequent killing of Muamar Qathafi.

Pictures and stories from 1966 indicate a very slight difference between Nkrumah and Qathafi's overthrow and maybe that of Patrice Lumumba of Congo. Nkrumah's absence from Ghana at the time, his “natural” death and Qathafi's presence in Libya, his call of the “bluffs” of the west and the people used in executing the “coup”; soldiers and rebels. Same motive seem to run between the lines and I dread how long it will take the entire African continent to realize the phenomenon and resolve to work at it; an African Unity as an option and a true unity at that.

The situation in Libya deteriorated with such a speed that led to divergent views from anti-imperialist, anti-Qathafi, to absent minded freelance talkatives who just felt the need to say something. The taxi and trotro driver, the latrine boy, the professor, the doctor, etc. Everyone had their own opinion about the Libya situation which they did not hesitate to pontificate at any given time.

And so on it went; atrocities meted out among and against fellow African brothers not to mention the innocent and vulnerable women and children of Libya, the massive destruction of infrastructure and reduction of one of the most beautiful countries in Africa to ashes and debris, repatriation of fellow Africans who have migrated there for greener pastures which was absent in many African Countries, the lukewarm attitude of African Leaders as meetings to “determine Libya's future” were held elsewhere. The African Union snored on “peacefully”. Constantly, the world press mostly owned by friends of the “super powers” resounded the opinions of the west especially France, America and Britain about Qathafi and his Libya.

Have not protests broken out in London? Destructive protests against government actions for that matter. What about the Wall Street protests and protests mounted up against some of president Sarkozy's policies in France? How much farce was or is being made about these protests? Were those protesters asking for an overthrow of the government or the monarchy in England?

Well, Africa does not have a “NATO” to “teach” these governments how to govern according to African principles, traditions and values. On the flip side however, Western military forces can be sent in and out of Africa at wish to dictate how the continent should be governed.

Conceivably, if Qathaffi had formed a political party, allowed others to thrive and rigged elections as subtly as have been seen over the years, he could probably still be drinking from his cup of power. Such has been the world system which seems to work with effectiveness. “Cheat, just don't get caught” seems to the means of survival. Determining to be different in this kind of system did not help brother Qathaffi that much. As for the deaths and atrocities leveled against him I believe they are neither entirely false nor entirely true.

I'm tempted to believe that the Libya revolution started just like any normal protest in any country and was only used as a catalyst to speed up an ulterior “reaction” against the Qathafi led regime.

That notwithstanding, I am no fan of the man Qathaffi. In fact, neither his taste for female guards, his sense of fashion nor his choice of words amuse me and I believe he could have handled the situation better than he did. Sadly, the illusion, pride, and fantasies that come with power left him clueless of the impossibilities surrounding him. Not even the “understanding” of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Algeria and the likes could change much. After all the most audible of sounds are heard the most. Qathafi probably over personalised Libya; much more than himself so deep down he went with the illusion that only he, can transform Libya. That was his crime and the footstool for the western invasion.

Aside the suffering of Libya from the fight between the two elephants, (Qathafi and the West) Lybia now starts all over again. Question is, who determines the pace? Who controls the oil rich economy of Libya? Inexperienced rebels with arms and wealth or experienced diplomatic coup makers hiding behind the veil of democracy and whose real interests have always been said to be natural resources? How easily can the rebel heart be tamed? What about reconciliation of factions created by this war? Egypt's example is sad.

Africa's Plight
Africa has not been allowed to be what best it can be because its colonial “parents” will not end the exploitation. Africa's own leaders get pregnant with power which they refuse to birth after the stipulated time leading to their “death”. Therefore the continent is left bleeding to death while majority wallow in abject poverty and minority enjoy extreme wealth born out of the toil of the minority. From East, West, North and South of the world has been a desperate quest of other nations to impose ideologies, infiltrate Africa's culture and control its economy with the help of its own people.

To fellow Africans, lets not loose sight of the fact that the so called “super powers” of the world do not care how many or which lives it takes to promote an ideology or interest. Those ideologies are supreme on their priority lists. As for fanatics of political office holders, remember in the battle between the two sides, you are as good as human shields against bullets.

It takes adequate education, a passion beyond wanting to stay in power, leaders who can effectively articulate Africa's views and stop at nothing to be heard, something stronger than determination by the African to hit that self confidence which propels nations and continents to break out of their shells to build a United Africa.

As we mourn and celebrate the death of one man who captured world attention even in death, my heart goes out to the Libyan people for what they have been through and I wish them well as they rebuild Libya and urge for vigilance. Who next after Libya?

Gifty Andoh Appiah ( [email protected])