The dictators and despots of Africa have always been the sources of embarrassments and irritation which make Africans lose confidence and hope in the continent. The decision of the African Union to re-elect Meles Zenawi as its chief negotiator is outrageous and needs to be denounced. It is a misrepresentation of Africa pre-destining the continent to be the loser in the global climate deals. Moreover, it represents a significant blow to the aspirations of Africans for a fair deal which will facilitate the continent`s development efforts. It is harmful to the interests of Africa and shows the failure and inability of the African Union to promote and stand for the common interests of the continent.
The leaders of the African Union should have drawn ample and useful lessons from the Copenhagen Climate Conference of 2009 where Meles Zenawi Zenawi betrayed Africa and joined ranks with the rich west. It is to be recalled that Zenawi`s mercenary role and betrayal of Africa in the December 2009 world climate conference outraged Africans and others who were working for a fair global climate deal. Zenawi has his own personal motives and abused the Climate Conference at Copenhagen to renew his patronage with the Obama administration.
In re-electing Meles Zenawi, the African dictators and despots are paving the way for a deal which will not take care of the longe term climatic concerns and interests of Africa. The decision also shows the absence any African or continental vision in the African Union. With the exception of a couple of countries (The Republic South Africa and Ghana), political power is in the hands of dictators and despots preoccupied with securing their power through foreign aid and support. Thus they do not mind about the consequences of their outrageous and reckless decision to entrust the sellout Meles Zenawi with such a vital task whose outcome will have a bearing on the future of the continent. However, unlike Meles Zenawi they accept and do not degrade their African heritage and identity. Independent and sovereign dictators could be the better choices since they have some commitments which can lead to securing favorable deals for the continent.
At the same time it is a tall order to expect rational decisions from the self serving African dictators and despots who have their eyes fixed on the so called climate money pot pledged by the west. It is expected that many Africans who closely follow developments and events in the continent have some knowledge on Meles Zenawi and his ethno-fascistic rule in Ethiopia. His obsessions with the colonial past of the continent, defunct colonial treaties and implementation of the administrative methods envisaged by the former colonial powers are among the most important features characterizing his discriminating and illegitimate rule in Ethiopia. His divide and rule policies are drowning the country in persistent inter-communal conflicts and violence. It is becoming pretty common among Ethiopians to describe his rule as that of an alien and occupying one due to the widespread aversion to it in the country.
There are many good reasons for opposing Meles Zenawi`s re-election and speaking loud against it. He is very dependent on the west and has thrown his lot with serving non-African foreign interests. He heads a tribal regime described as one of the world`s most backward, and modelled after the e apartheid rule which existed in South Africa. He does not accept the equality of humans and citizens. His economic policies are causing increasing environmental damages in Ethiopia. Most of all, his guiding political outlooks of ethnic anchored fascism and ethnic supremacy make him the most unsuitable candidate to play any role in any continental or global issue. On the other hand it is important to point out that the re-election of Meles Zenawi is a significant victory for the west since it increases the bargaining position of the west in the negotiations. As witnessed at the Copenhagen conference, the rich western countries do not appear to be willing to acccept their responsibility and commit themselves to equitable emission cuts and financing commensurate with their contribution to global warming. The rumoured western lobbyings and manipulations of African diplomats and leaders to get their man Meles Zenawi elected as the continent`s chief negotiator can not be dismissed. Africa will be handcuffed and can not be in a favorable position to negotiate a fair deal with the agent of neo-colonialism Meles Zenaw as its chief negotiator. In this regard it is important to take note of one scenario which also emerged at the Copenhagen climate Conference. The position of the emerging economies like China and India which firmly opposed the western proposed emission cuts and economic or financial burden shariing which were not found fair and just enough to address the critical issues involved in global warming. These countries wield influence and can play signifcant roles in directing the process and the outcome of the coming negotiations.
It is of vital importance for our African brothers and sisters to be informed of the fact that the marriage of convenience between the ethno-fascist Meles Zenawi and west is the main cause of the ever increasing misery and suffering in Ethiopia. Thus Africans and other forces seeking a fair and sustainable global climate deal should denounce and strongly oppose the betraying decision the African Union has taken. Africans should also increase their engagement in issues concerning climate and exert pressure on their respective leaders to reject any such deal ignoring the interests of Africa. The poor and underdeveloped Africa will be the one to be most affected by global warming and bearing the brunt of the burden if its concerns are not taken care of.
There is now sufficient evidence linking climatic changes to the erratic and more frequent shortages of rainfall in some parts of the world. The horn of Africa especially Ethiopia is very vulnerable andperiodically experiencing the negative impacts of failing rains and subsequent droughts. Ethiopia is the country facing acute shortage of food and where tens of millions of citizens are dependent on foreign food aid. Thus it is natural for Ethiopians to be very concerned about the unfavorable climatic changes and actively engage themselves in all the efforts aimed at finding ways of mitigating them. The available knowledge indicates that the rich industrialized countries are responsible for most of the pollutions contributing to the global climatic changes. Hence the rich industrialized countries are expected to make the necessary concessions in order to come up with a fair and acceptable global climate deal. Climatic changes pose long term global challenges andself serving dictators like Meles Zeawi can never be partners in addressing them.
