Africa closes chapter on one tyrant
The death of Libya’s ex-leader Muammar Gaddafi was met with relief across most of Africa where, as benefactor and warmonger, his influence and oil wealth moulded nations and politics for four decades.
Newspapers across the continent hailed the fall of the man who styled himself as the “King of Kings” of Africa, serving his death up as a harsh lesson to other strongmen around the continent.
However many were angry over the way the ousted despot met his end, and the publication of images of him being “killed like a dog”, after being dragged from a sewage pipe on the outskirts of his hometown Sirte. (READ: Deposed Libya leader Gaddafi dead)
In Morocco, main opposition leader Lahcen Daoudi said Gaddafi had chosen his death.
“It gives us one less tyrant,” he said, echoing newspaper headlines above photos of a bloodied Gaddafi declaring: “The end of tyranny”.
Nigeria’s The Guardian’s front-page story headlined: “Quit notice - to bad leaders!”
In continental powerhouse South Africa, The Times newspaper warned in an editorial that Gaddafi’s death should be a lesson to African dictators.
“The likes of Gaddafi continued in power because their peers on the continent failed to condemn them,” said the newspaper.
“In Africa, he played a critical role in helping struggling governments to liberate themselves from colonialism but the “brotherly” help soon changed into dictatorship”.
The African Union, criticised for being divided and slow to react to the brutal crackdown by their respected and moneyed did not react directly to Gaddafi’s death, but called for the new Libyan authorities to fulfil “the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people for democracy, respect for human rights and good governance.”
(AFP)
