Africa and The Current State of International Relations!

How Justified is It Role In Libya Operation?

As Africa has witnessed the NATO-Influenced fall of one of the best African governments in terms of bringing social-economic developments to it's people, Libya, the question remains how much this incident has open the eyes of many on how western powers may deceive UN and still be able to get away with it. How these states may violate international laws and still walk away free from them. What we have been able to see is that NATO as organisation of a specific integration block may interfere, take side and encourage a civil war as long as it is in their own foreign policy interests. Who still may stand and say there is fairness in International Law?

Africa Union- Is It's Importance & Voice Respected
in International Arena outside Africa?

Who may convince African states to believe that their sovereignty is protected in International Laws against super military blocks such as NATO? And I believe unless the International Community takes a hard stand and ensure that justice is also served to even to those who are believed are untouchables in international arena then certain members of the international relations such as Africa will always feel undermine when it comes to international justice.

A Victim of His Belief and Firm Stand
Against Imperialism?

Will NATO be held accountable by violating the No-Fly Zone? Will NTC & NATO be held accountable by the killing of Gaddafi instead of taking him to the Hague? What about Guantanamo bay?

Time will tell, but unless African states get united and give a united stand relating to various international relations challenges they are facing such as misrepresentation in the UN Security council in terms of Veto votes then this will not be the end of a long indirect African states sovereignty oppression. I used the word oppression because as long as the disrespecting of African Union by NATO in it's effort to solve the Libyan crisis peaceful that showed the maximum of the West disrespectful of African sovereignty when it comes to matters relating to their economical interests. 

Maybe it is difficult to blame nations that try hard to meet the interests of their foreign policies, but what about African states? What did we do in response of the violations we witnessed in a fellow African state? Or us too we were busy trying to protect the interests of our foreign policies? And with all these happening who may stand and justify the equality of states in-front of international laws?

How Much United Nations is United Nations?

Who may explain why the western media ignores much of violations against international laws conducted by western countries? In various ways it has been seen a normal thing for these nations to violate international laws and get away with it. Example of these includes international laws violated within the Iraq invasion and treatment of detainees, especially during the George Bush era, through which various UN Charter and Geneva Conventions articles were violated. But who cares? It is not Africa, right?

As a student of International Relations I believe there a serious need for a reformation in international relations, by ignoring these differences we might see great consequences in near future. For as long as international laws are now being seen as instruments to justify the invasions of weaker states only and letting the stronger ones getting away with whatever laws they violate then international community is getting into a barbaric nature of relations. Relations surrounded with fear and doubts, relations were by a state has no choice than to give away it's natural resources in fear of invasions under any cause and propaganda as it happened in Iraq or even through foreign influence and support of civil wars as in Libya. A situation were by sovereignty of a state remains to be a term in paper and empty words, but one that may be taken away by the mightier at any minute a state fails to agree to do and act as commanded by them.

What is Post-Gaddafi Era Promising?

He was not a perfect leader, but who is? Democracy is adopted in Africa, and it is adopted from Western countries, I believe democracy is important tool in today's era but I also believe a country that is ready for democracy by the will of its people is much more important than that forced into them. I also believe in sense of either economic growth and good quality of living majority of people in Africa will be ready to trade and give up democracy to achieve the above critical things in life.

Tanzanian Flag at Half Mast at Centre For Foreign Relations
As To All Government Offices

Maybe yes, Gaddafi deserved to removed in power, but it could be more sense if it was the will of the majority of Libyans and by Libyans themselves and any other way around. It would have been much better for a good and open legal procedure to be followed, but is International Law real realistic? How many crimes do Western powers commit and nothing is brought forward? How many civilians have died under Western powers interference in sovereign states? A lot, but that is the side that the International Law ignores. Justice should be to both sides, when it is only operational to one side it is hard for it to gain respect.

As the Minister for Foreign Affairs [Tanzania], stated, AU has not been respected by the NATO when it was about to pass through peaceful means to end the Libyan crisis. The need reforms at the United Nations Security Council are now more than crucial to insure the matter of sovereignty is not only to the Western powers but also to developing African states.

If Africa will continue to let foreign powers mess with it's stability and bring instability for their own capitalistic interests then we should know one thing, that is Africa will always be an underdog. Unless we stand up, with one voice, against foreign powers getting into our lands and bring instability in the name of democracy though its for their own interests, Africa will remain in poverty while they will always prosper!

Anyone who will try to tell me NATO went to Libya for democracy, I will ask you few questions. Why not North Korea? Why not Burma? Why not Somalia? Why not Cuba? and lastly why not CHINA?

A analytically reasoning will open your eyes and let you see that their is nothing than propaganda with what has happened in Libya. Even if Gaddafi deserved to be removed still what he did for Libya in terms of economy and other issues he deserved better. Even after all his body deserved at least a last respect! Africa had several leaders, but few were able to stand firm against being bullied in International Arena. But whats important is that few were able to bring even a half of such a high quality living standards!

As the day ends, I still see no day that a western government leader brought to international courts, and don't tell me they don't commit international crimes. A lot of people die every week in middle east due to unjustified interventions. Remember the issue of D.R.Congo? Who encouraged the civil war there? What about the human rights abusing Guantanamo bay? 

I think of Africa. My mother land! Beautiful and rich in resources! The major obstacles standing in it's way; neo-colonialism and forced policies...more foreign investments, going away with Billions of worth of natural resources while paying less than 10% of their profits...but no one sees that, no ONE..!!!

Its all about greedy and national interests! We students and scholars understands, so its hard to push blames..

I hope one thing, we need a real complex balance of power.....! Africa wake up!!!! As Gaddafi is gone, I hope the goals for an African currency and Africa Monetary Union wont go away with him. These are great and important things, and I believe Gaddafi's commitment to these principles might be one of the reasons for such dedicated operation to remove him.

All in all, there are a lot of undemocratic and 'real' oppression leaderships in the world...so unless we get the real reasons why Libya? Africa will never trust in Western powers, and furthermore never again trust the UN Security council. To be lied and ignored is what several states got from NATO, and that is real abuse of influence!

As Tanzania we look forward for new co-operation with the new Libya, as our Foreign Minister said, we pray for a better and peaceful Libya though we cant hide our concerns over the future of Libya!

"Compare Libya's country profile with any other in sub-Saharan Africa and you'll see that this guy, unlike too many of the crap leaders the continent has endured in the last few decades, didn't just say "f*ck you" to his people.  

Compare Libya's GDP per capita ($12K+) with countries like Nigeria ($1K+) or Botswana, probably the most stable "democracy" in Africa at $6K+ (democracy is not always the solution; sometimes it's nothing more than a money-wasting farce).

Gaddafi was a dictator, he supported many questionable cause and held on to power for too long, and it is best that he goes now, but while we celebrate his removal let's not completely erase our memories of what elsehe did, or forget why many of us were also, from time to time, rather proud of him, frustrating as he may have been."
    ~ThisIsAfrica.com

God Bless Africa,

God Bless Libya!

Libya and Africa: After Gaddafi!

The removal of Gadaffi in Libya has it's advantages to others and also it raises some serious questions about how Libya will move on from here. We are all aware that NATO led/backed invasions and removal of governments in various countries has never been for the interests of the people but of the NATO member states' capitalistic gains. As one friend in twitter recently kept it, "NATO is not a charity organisation!'

No matter what US, UK, France and others say about what real motivated them into another costly war the reality will always remain that it was an important war for oil gains. We have worst democratic problems in countries such as Somalia, Myanmar and North Korea, why haven't they do something about it? The answer is only one and that is they is not much to gain from them. It is the saddest truth. So when they saw Tunisia and Egypt true revolutions of the people by the people to the people, they grabbed the opportunity and fueled the minority Libya revolution.With the help of african-disunity as the time of colonialism, again they won it. Because despite Libya under Muammar Gaddafi doing a lot for Libya and Africa continent development still only one country was able to stand up and speak the truth, and that was South Africa.

So the UN was lied to by NATO, the war was fought by the 'rebels' hand in hand with NATO, and now Gaddafi is out, what's next?

I pray we see a peaceful Libya that will be able to continue flourishing and 'stand out for Africa continent' as before[I doubt that], and also to continue its positive economic growth. I pray what happened in Democratic Republic of Congo, not to happen in Libya. There should be no room for back-door financing of various groups to encourage dis-stability while millions of oil gallons are stolen just like blood diamonds!!

There should not come a day that people of Libya will ask themselves, 'What we have done?'.

God Bless Libya,

God Bless Africa!

The World Is Full Of Dictators!

What is done by most of the powerful nations through the use of the UN Security council and whatever other organisations they are in is more of a dictatorship behavior! I have come to realise 'Dictators are everywhere, not only in Africa..the only difference is that in other countries there are frequent election for them!'

Few questions I ask myself, why has the decision to attack Libya under the name of 'protecting civilian areas and pressure Gaddafi into accepting a ceasefire' has been done in such a fast pace while we have seen Ivory Coast problem still unsolved for such a long time..? 'Gaddafi has lost legitimacy' said the UN, what about Laurent Gbagbo?

Because if you ask yourself such questions you will end up realizing the military intervention of Libya by Western powers is 'economical interests oriented than freedom of people of Libya', taking advantage of the situation that is what it is called. The question of oil and other investments in Libya is more important than the 'Chocolate thing' [Cocoa] of Ivory Coast!

And since we don't ask ourselves questions all we do is cheer up, but in reality we don't real know what is happening behind the diplomatic door, its not about humanitarian reasons its all capitalism! Just like colonialism!

UNTIL WHEN WILL AFRICA BEING JUDGED AND QUESTIONED UNDER FOREIGN STANDARDS? IT'S TIME AFRICA SHOULD HAVE IT'S OWN VOICE FOR IT'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS, AND IF WE THINK SOMEONE WILL GIVE US THAT VOICE THEN WE ARE REAL IN A PROBLEM!

I DON'T SEE A DAY THAT AFRICA WILL QUESTION THE LEGITIMACY OF ANY EUROPEAN OR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT!!

AFRICA PROBLEMS SHOULD BE SOLVED BY AFRICANS FOR AFRICANS INTERESTS, OUT OF THAT IT'S ALL WRONG! AS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LIBYA NOW!