Africa 'betrayed' Gaddafi, but he also quit Tripoli too easily - Uganda president

Ugandan president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni spoken extensively about the impact of the Libyan crisis post-Gadaffi on the wider northwestern and sub-Saharan Africa region.

According to Museveni, it was wrong that people he referred to as "arrogant, irresponsible aggressors," had gone against an African Union position to attack and oust Gaddafi.

Speaking at his inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, May 12, 2021; the sixth-term president also bemoaned how easily Gadaffi abandoned the capital Tripoli when fighting broke out back in 2011.

"First of all, the situation in Libya,was created by the arrogant and irresponsible actions of some actors that took actions that were against the express position of the African Union.

"I can reveal to you now, that those actors, had a narrow escape. When some actors started attacking Libya against the decision of the African Union, I contacted H.E. Jacob Zuma of South Africa for African Armies, that so decided, to intervene in Libya and confront and teach a lesson to those aggressors.

"We were let down by Muammar Gaddaffi who abandoned Tripoli without a fight. Although, at that time, I did not have direct link with Muammar Gaddaffi, I advised his envoy who came to see me, to turn Tripoli into a Stalingrad.

"With H.E. Jacob Zuma, we had to work out a solution for the air-craft and cruise missiles that attack defenceless people from far away, so that if the aggressors so wished, could come on the ground and we fight man to man.

"Such a confrontation would, of course, have been imposed on us unnecessarily. We have, since long time ago, stated that African patriots, like we in the NRM, are neither pro-West nor pro-East.

"We are, first and foremost, pro-Africa. It is on account of that, that good friends should only deal with contentious strategic African issues via the African Union," Museveni said.

How Gaddafi was ousted a decade ago

In February 2011, many Libyans demonstrated against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. The demonstrations then turned into an armed conflict between Gaddafi’s forces and West-backed rebels.

In March 2011, NATO forces intervened in Libya’s civil war with promises to liberate the country. The operation helped overthrow Gaddafi but left the country deeply unstable.

During the past 10 years, the Libyans have been plagued by political and economic collapse, inter-militia and intertribal warfare, as well as humanitarian crisis. In 2010, Libya’s GDP per capita exceeded 12,000 U.S. dollars. However, in 2011 it dropped to about 5,500 U.S. dollars.

Other things Museveni said about Gaddafi's ouster

"By-passing the African Union, is not acceptable when it comes to dangerous strategic African issues. We have no interest in fighting anybody except poverty and under-development in Africa, starting with Uganda.

"However, some actors are always “in search of enemies”. Our role there, is to advise those who are advisable, but also do our patriotic duty if unavoidable. Unfortunately, the Libyans collapsed quickly. On account of that, much of North West Africa, has been with security problems that were not there before: Libya, Chad,

Mali, Niger, parts of Nigeria, Central African Republic and Cameroon. Who is responsible for this haemorrhage?

"Of course, Muammar Gaddaffi had his own problems. I had had the task of fighting him twice ─ 1972 and 1979 ─ as he intervened in Uganda on the side of Idi Amin because he was a Moslem.

"However, foreign armies attacking an African country against the express objection of the African Union, is not the solution.

"The huge concomitant suffering of the Africans in Libya and the surrounding countries, has proven that, if any proof was needed."