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African Renaissance Vol 8 Nos3-4 2011: The Arab Spring: Africa’s Coming Winter of Disconten?) Guest editor: Gerrie Swart

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ISSN : 1744-2532 (Print) 2516-5305 (Online)

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The African continent has undeniably faced a tumultuous 2011.

In 2011 an unprecedented uprising erupted against corrupt and repressive regimes in North Africa, now infamously known as the ‘Arab Spring’. This culminated in the fall of President Ben Ali of Tunisia’s regime in January 2011. Inspired by Tunisia’s ‘Jasmine Revolution’, Egypt swiftly followed suit, calling for the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak’s regime. Scores of demonstrators from all ages and backgrounds subsequently seized control of Tahrir Square in central Cairo, which emerged as the hub and heart of the country’s revolution. Following 18 days of protests (characterized by Mubarak’s attempts to brutally suppress dissent, and the army’s withdrawal of support) Mubarak was forced to stand down and is currently facing what is likely to be a lengthy and difficult trial. In November 2011 Egypt’s Tahrir Square was once again the scene of brutal violence and clashes between police and protestors demanding an end to military rule by the The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces who assumed power when Hosni Mubarak was toppled. The fresh protests led to the deaths of nearly 30 people and wounding of 1,250, as the country prepared for its first major elections since the revolution.

The events that followed in Libya were of even greater significance and devastation.

Libya’s announcement that it would surrender its WMD in 2003 was met with great surprise and disbelief and was accompanied by a number of watershed moments, which included the end of Libya’s diplomatic isolation with the (somewhat unsatisfactory) conclusion of the Lockerbie case. It appeared as if Africa’s most notorious rogue leader was on course to reform his international image radically. ‘Brother Leader’, as Muammar Gaddafi was affectionately called by his closest allies, further set his sights on becoming a revered African statesman. In August 2008, a group of 200 African kings and traditional rulers met to bestow the title of ‘African King of Kings’ on Gaddafi. No longer persona non grata, Gaddafi enthusiastically asserted himself on the African continent. He was one of the principle architects of the newly-established African Union (AU), hosting numerous summits in Tripoli and Sirte. In 2009 Gaddafi was elected to the position of Chairman of the AU. The most controversial aspect of Gaddafi’s work within the AU was his vision of a ‘United States of Africa’ (undoubtedly with him at the helm). Gaddafi however failed to completely eliminate his dubious reputation and maintained close ties with fellow rogue leaders such as President Omar al-Bashir and President Robert Mugabe.

Gaddafi faced an unprecedented challenge to his rule when anti-regime protests erupted on 15 February 2011, shortly after Egypt’s revolution.

Anti-Gaddafi demonstrations flared up in the eastern city of Benghazi and rapidly spread to the capital of Tripoli. Gaddafi attempted to crush the demonstrations with brute force. Public fury at the massacres turned into a popular uprising which prompted the UN Security Council to adopt Resolution 1973, enforcing a ‘no-fly zone’ under NATO command, providing support for the rebels and National Transitional Council (NTC) to advance and swiftly contributed to Muammar Gaddafi’s fall. Even after forces loyal to Libya’s National Transitional Council overran his fortified Tripoli compound on 23 August 2011, Gaddafi evaded capture and vowed to fight on-until 20 October when Gaddafi was seriously wounded near his hometown of Sirte and his gruesome death was broadcast to millions across the globe.

Amidst the chaos and carnage in North Africa, the rest of the continent was not immune to instability in 2011 either. Côte d’Ivoire’s strongman, former President Laurent Gbagbo was charged at the end of November 2011 with four counts of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, for acts allegedly committed after the country’s disputed presidential run-off election between the former president and his challenger (now President) Alassane Ouattara, which plunged the country back into civil war. Gbagbo, is also the first ex-head of state to be taken into custody by the ICC. The ICC is investigating killings, rapes and other abuses committed during the four-month conflict triggered by Gbagbo’s refusal to cede power to Ouattara whose victory was recognised by the UN and other international bodies. Ouattara’s French-backed forces deposed Gbagbo in April 2011, ending a struggle that killed 3000 people and displaced more than a million people. At the time of writing he was set to make his first appearance before the ICC at The Hague.

The events (especially the ‘Arab Spring’) largely caught many academics and international observers off guard and represented a major revolution and massive flux in the fortunes of Africa’s leadership- once thought to be ‘untouchable’. Coming to grips with the deeper consequences, implications and meaning for African leaders, with equally dubious track records in governance, beyond these cataclysmic developments is likely to be profound. The implications for the African Union are equally crucial to consider.

In May 2011 the Africa Forum launched a desperate appeal amidst adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 and the continuing carnage unfolding in Libya:

The determined military actions taken by sections of the international community since then have not ended the Libyan conflict…We are gravely concerned that especially these military interventions, now under the leadership of NATO, have not brought us any closer to a durable resolution of this conflict… In this regard we regret deeply that, so far, it seems to have proved impossible to implement the Plan and Programme adopted by the African Union peacefully to end the Libyan conflict through meaningful negotiations. This is especially important for us because, first and foremost, Libya is an African country and a Member State of the AU.[1]

Following the death of Muammar Gaddafi, the Africa Forum again expressed its grave concerns over developments in Libya:

The Forum for Former African Heads of State and Government, commonly known as the Africa Forum (AF), welcomes the declaration by the National Transitional Authorities of Libya (NTC) of the end of civil war in the country and the beginning of national reconciliation and renewal in democracy and full regard to human rights. This notwithstanding, AF is gravely concerned about the apparent execution and subsequent macabre display of the body of Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi who was evidently alive when arrested. The manner in which his corpse was treated with utter disregard to Islamic practice and dignity reflects a total lack of respect for human life. It was totally unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms. It also undermined the cause of national and international justice and of human rights. AF joins the world in calling for an International Commission of inquiry into the circumstances leading to his death and holds the NTC to its commitment to that effect. AF is even more concerned that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s killing was aided and abetted by the surreptitious use of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 - in total marginalization of the African Union - to implement regime change in Libya.[2]

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki in particular voiced his concern at the wider implications of events in Libya for the credibility and ability of the African Union (AU) to assume responsibility for its own affairs i.e. that the AU Roadmap had largely been ignored by the UN Security Council and AU attempts at mediation in Libya being blocked as the continental body attempted to launch crucial initiatives to resolve the crisis.[3]

Amidst North Africa’s ‘Arab Spring’, the African Union appears to be entering a proverbial ‘winter of discontent’- given that its relevance appears to be once more threatened and its efforts being overshadowed in dealing with issues of peace, security and conflict resolution on the African continent. This issue of African Renaissance presents three contributions, dealing in varying degrees with an issue that is likely to garner greater attention following developments in 2011- will the African Union be able to reassert its pre-eminence in continental affairs following the Arab Spring and the conflict in Libya?

Mohamed A. Eno, Omar A. Eno, Jamal M. Hagi, and Azzeddine Bencherab poses a thought-provoking question in their contribution, Whose Values Are Promoted in the African Union’s ‘Shared Values’ Project?, revealing a thought-provoking discussion and also highly-insightful answers to this timely question. Of equal importance Solomon A. Dersso in his contribution, The North African Uprisings and their implications to AU’s Emerging Peace and Security Regime, argues that the popular uprisings and the ensuing political developments in North Africa carry serious implications for Africa, its emerging peace and security regime and generally the broader international system. For Africa, one of the implications of the events is their potential domino effect to the rest of the continent and the resultant challenge this may pose to stability and peace. Finally, Ian Liebenberg’s contribution, Northern Africa, Arabian Springs, Oil and Arrogance: New uses for R2P in Africa, probes the events that unfolded in Libya since February 2011 in yet another thought-provoking analysis and discussion.

[1] Africa Forum (2011) ‘An Urgent Appeal on Libya By Former African Heads of State & Government, 25 May, http://www.africaforum.org

[2] Africa Forum, ‘Communiqué on Developments in Libya, 24 October 2011, http://www.africaforum.org

[3] SAPA, ‘Mbeki- West Seeks to Undermine Africa, 5 November 2011

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