US urges AU, African leaders to expel Gaddafi's envoys

The United States has urged the AU and leaders of African countries to expel pro-Ghaddafi diplomats from their countries and institutions.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who made the call in Addis Ababa on Monday, when she addressed the A U Peace and Security Council (PSC) also urged the AU and the African leaders to recognise the Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) led by the Benghazi rebel group.

She said it was time for Muammar Gaddafi to leave in order to have a better political process for Libya and Libyans.

Call for ceasefire

Clinton said: “I urge all African States to ask Gaddafi to call for a ceasefire and leave, and you should also suspend the operations of Gaddafi’s diplomats in your countries, expel pro-Gaddafi diplomats and support the TNC.

“Your words and actions could make the difference in bringing this situation to a close and allowing people of Libya to get to work in rebuilding their country."

She stressed that the status quo was broken and that the old ways things were going was no longer acceptable.

 “It is time for our leaders to lead with accountability. Our leaders must rise to the occasion and show leadership by embracing a path that honour your peoples’ aspirations’’ she said.

Shaping the future of Africa

Clinton said Africa had achieved a great success politically, economically and socially and urged the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to shape the future of Africa.

She said democracy, economic growth, peace and security were central to thriving nations and continent and that peace in Africa affect the global peace. 

Clinton said it was encouraging that about 50 per cent of African countries have embraced democracy citing an example with Nigeria’s recent election which was rated as the best since the country’s independence.

“Nigeria had the fairest election recently. President Goodluck Jonathan was inaugurated after 15 days of a best election in Nigeria. We will not accept sit-tight leaders who define election as won election one time. They hold to power by all means,” Clinton said.

Guaranteeing a prosperous future

She also commended Nigeria for a strong achievement recorded in the country in the eradication of polio, and urged other countries to do same.

Clinton said with six of the world’s fastest growing economies in sub-saharan Africa, it was unfortunate that prosperous future of Africans could not be guaranteed.

She said creating jobs for African youth was critical for Africa as more than 60 per cent of the population were below 30 years.

Increasing trade ties

Clinton also urged African countries to stop corruption, strengthen their tax systems, improve transparency for economic growth and introduce e-government to ease transactions.

She said the US would provide 120 million dollars for trade with Africa in the next four years.

Clinton said African women were the hardest working women in the world, and urged African leaders to treat women with dignity because of their contributions to the economy.

On crisis in Africa

While calling on the leaders of the Transitional National Government in Somalia to resolve their internal crisis, Clinton said she would meet with the representatives of Sudan and the South Sudan to resolve the lingering Abyei issue and ensure uninterrupted independence of the South on July 9.

Clinton said the US would continue to work with the AU to ensure that crises on the continent were stopped before they erupt.

In his speech, the AU Commission Chairperson, Dr Jean Ping, said the AU would continue to collaborate with the US government in various areas of development.

He said Clinton’s visit to the AU was important to the Commission.

NAN/Williams