Why Ghadafi’s Libya should matter to the rest of Africa

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's Tuesday speech is “worrying”, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

This feeling of the German leader runs across the globe, at least everywhere where the people are concerned about the worrisome development in the North African nation.

"The news we've had from Libya yesterday and today is worrying and the speech by Colonel Gaddafi this afternoon was very, very frightening, especially because he virtually declared war on his own people," said the German chancellor.

Between yesterday and today, Ghadafi has made history; yesterday he spoke for the shortest period of time in more than 40^th years of his reign – in just few seconds, denouncing the protesters’ resolve for change.

And today, in a highly rambling, over one and a half hour’s speech, he repeated the same nonsense talk.

The concern for the world is that not only did Ghadafi reiterate his intention to stay and die as a ‘mytre’ (and we all know what that means), but he has referred to the protesters as cockroaches, rats and mice. Remember the Rwandan genocide?

“I rise above the post… I am a fighter… I fight in cities and town…” these are some of Ghadafi’s words.

If after the past few days Ghadafi has really not ordered the use of force yet against the protesters, as he said in his statement to night, can you imagine what awaits the people of Libya who have never been so determined to take their country back from this maniac?

He already said it, that he would purge Libya house by house if necessary.

For those of us in this part of Africa who are in the habit of supporting evil leadership like Ghadafi’s, obviously because of similarities they have to our respective situations, it will make a big difference if we start thinking right. Ghadafi for one doesn’t represent anything good for either Libya nor the greater Africa or the rest of the world. The world must therefore stop making the mistake of dignifying his criminal onslaught against innocent people by not mentioning his name where the word revolution is mentioned.

His Tuesday speech provides a perfect illustration of his inclination to ruthlessness; he promised to do all it takes to maintain his authority. As for his bigoted feeling towards the rest of Africa and the rest of the world, take these words of his: “Libya will be leading the whole world, including Africa and Asia… No one can stop this revolution…” What a joke!