Libya: Nigeria calls South Africa’s bluff

President Goodluck Jonathan

Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa bickered over the Libyan situation on Thursday, with the Federal Government reiterating its support for the Libyan rebels that drove Col. Moammar Gaddafi from power.

Although South Africa has not officially responded to Nigeria’s position, which was first declared on Tuesday, a senior official of the ruling African National Congress has flayed the move.

The Federal Government was among the first members of the African Union to formally recognise the rebels’ Transitional National Council as the authentic representatives of the Libyan people.

But the Secretary-General of the ANC, Mr. Gwede Mantashe, had criticized Nigeria’s decision at a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday.

“Nigeria is jumping the gun in recognising the rebels as representatives of Libya. The AU position stays,” he said.

However, the presidency on Thursday said Nigeria was not bothered about the criticism. Reacting, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the FG had the right to take a position on international issues, in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy goals.

He said, “It was an African National Congress member that reacted, so the position of an ANC member does not really amount to the position of the South African government.

“However, let this be clear: Nigeria has every right as a sovereign entity to take a position on any international affair. It is not a question of one country holding a higher moral ground than the other.

“Each country has its own foreign policy ideals and objectives and it is completely beside the point to say that one country is criticizing the position held by another.

“Nigeria’s position is very clear and is consistent and it is principled.”

Although he noted that President Goodluck Jonathan was yet to speak to the leadership of the TNC, Abati said the Federal Government had told the rebels to respect the wishes of the Libyan people.

He explained, “The position of Nigeria on Libya as published is consistent, it is principled.

“Nigeria respects the wishes of the people of Libya. Nigeria has advised the transitional council to ensure that the interests of the people are defended and that multiple-party democracy is returned as quickly as possible and that reconciliation and reconstruction should be the objectives of the new administration.”

South African President Jacob Zuma had complained that air strikes by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation went further than a United Nations resolution to protect civilians in Libya. He had also said that NATO’s operations undermined Africa’s efforts to broke a ceasefire.

“The situation in Libya has been of concern as it has been accompanied by the undermining of the African continent’s role in finding a solution,” Zuma had told reporters in Cape Town after meeting Ghanaian President John Atta Mills.

Meanwhile, Libyan rebels on Thursday clashed with troops loyal to Gaddafi as the rebels tried to put pressure on the last bastion of Gaddafi’s forces along the Mediterranean coast.

Gaddafi’s whereabouts are yet unknown though rebels on Thursday pounded areas near his compound in Tripoli, believing that he was hiding nearby.

Reuters quoted a rebel spokesman to have said that insurgents are approaching Sirte, Gaddafi’s home town, from two sides and are hoping to negotiate the surrender of its defenders. But the rebels said Gaddafi’s hardcore loyalists in the town, 450 km east of Tripoli, had vowed to fight to death.

The town has a population of about 100,000 people, including many members of Gaddafi’s tribe.

Gaddafi’s forces withdrew from the eastern oil towns of Brega and Ras Lanuf towards Sirte this week. On Thursday, they were believed to be making a stand at a place known as the Red Valley, about 120 km east of the pro-Gaddafi stronghold, said a rebel spokesman, Mohammad Zawawi.

Fighting erupted again in Tripoli on Thursday after a relatively quiet night.

A British Broadcasting Corporation’s report noted that there were gunfights in the Abu Salim district, close to a notorious prison, and near the Corinthia Hotel about 1.5km (a mile) from Martyrs Square - formerly Green Square - where most foreign journalists are based.

On Thursday, sporadic gunfire was also heard at Gaddafi’s sprawling Bab al-Aziziya compound, which had been overrun by rebels on Tuesday.

The rebels were breaking into the complex tunnel system underneath the compound, searching for the man who had ruled the country for 42 years. The bodies of several Gaddafi fighters have been found inside.

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