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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020707/ap_wo_en_po/africa_au_tussle_2http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020707/ap_wo_en_po/africa_au_tussle_2
South Africa and Libya vie for leadership roles in African Union
Sun Jul 7, 4:36 PM ET
By DINA KRAFT, Associated Press Writer
DURBAN, South Africa - Moammar Gadhafi arrived for the birth of the African Union in an ostentatious flourish with a planeload of luxury armored vehicles and his own elaborate security detail.
But the Libyan leader, who has never hidden his desire to lead Africa, was quickly put in his place by his South African hosts, who said they will be responsible for his security, not his coterie of bodyguards.
It was yet another victory for South African President Thabo Mbeki in his struggle with Gadhafi over who will lead the world's poorest continent in the beginning of the 21st Century.
Gadhafi fancies himself the father of the African Union, the new continental body that will replace the 39-year-old Organization for African Unity at a summit of African leaders starting Monday.
But it is Mbeki who has spearheaded efforts to ensure the new organization promotes democracy and good governance and works to bring Africa out of poverty.
"At crux is two competing views for the continent," said political analyst Chris Landsberg. "When it comes to Africa, not only does Mbeki have a clear vision of where to take the continent, but it is one of substance, of governance and responsibility."
Gadhafi, cast out as a player in the Middle East, simply is looking to make his mark in Africa, analysts and some African officials say.
"He (Gadhafi) was so desperate to restore his image and find a new role, he latched onto the idea of Africa," said Landsberg, co-director of The Center for Africa's International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. "Clearly no democratic figure, he subscribes to open checkbook diplomacy."
In a bid to woo African states to his side, Gadhafi has paid dlrs 2.2 million to cover the OAU membership dues for 11 countries. He has also given assistance to struggling African nations, bailing out Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe when his country was suffering a severe fuel shortage.
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, the outgoing chairman of the OAU, has said he will propose Libya as the permanent headquarters of the African Union.
Gadhafi had pressed to delay the African Union's launch by a year in hopes of hosting the gala inauguration himself — a move that was thwarted, partly, by South Africa.
In an apparent bid to upstage his South African hosts, however, he sponsored a private dinner for African leaders Sunday night in Durban.
Mbeki paid a state visit to Libya last month, in part to goad Gadhafi into supporting his push for democratic and economic reforms through the union and the New Partnership for African Development, which envisions massive Western investment in Africa in exchange for accountability, democracy, and a commitment to human rights, South African officials said.
Early indications show Gadhafi is falling in line behind Mbeki, realizing he won't be a player if he does not at least publicly endorse the new agendas, the officials said on condition of anonymity.
But the investment plan, which Mbeki has led, is a clear threat to a leader like Gadhafi, whose past support of terrorism has made him an international pariah, said Jakkie Cilliers, director of the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies.
Despite Libya's money and Gadhafi's grandstanding, the nation appears to be isolated in Africa.
"Every initiative Libya comes up with is watered down and changed to become more reasonable and suit (the other African countries') demands," said Cilliers. "He is trying to carve out a niche for himself as the great African statesman, but African states take his money, pay their due respect but in actual fact he is thwarted."
Gadhafi's original idea for the African Union was a grand federation, with one currency and one army — a concept that was never seriously discussed.
South Africa's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa was quick to smooth over any supposed bad blood between South Africa and Libya, saying the new union was a body representing all Africa.
"It is the unanimous (desire) of the entire leadership of the continent. There is no power struggle," he said.
As proof that all was well between the two African powerhouses, Mamoepa pointed to a recent gift Gadhafi gave Mbeki: a stretch Mercedes-Benz limousine.
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