Current oldest president in the continent and the leader of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, who is also the African Union chairperson, over the weekend lashed out at Africa’s two biggest economies for what he describes as their betrayal of the continent which contributed to the toppling of the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi
He told the summit that Africa would never agree to the two countries getting permanent seats on the council as they had betrayed the continent’s trust.
According to Independent News, Mugabe was speaking at a meeting of the ‘Committee of 10’ which was discussing possible changes to the Ezulwini Consensus – an agreement stating Africa’s position of reform within the UN Security Council. South Africa was also calling for the agreement to adopt a more flexible approach as the rigid demands were causing problems in seeing reforms in the council.South African president is quoted to have said last year: “Africa needs to compromise – not reiterate fixed positions as it has done for the past nine years.”
But, according to one regional official who was at the meeting, Mugabe’s lashing out at South Africa and Nigeria would seriously hamper impede South Africa’s case for amending the consensus.
Credit: Independent News