‘Museveni worried over Gaddafi plot to kill him’
Arising out of their conflicting standpoints on the political unity of Africa, President Museveni feared an attack on his aircraft on President Gaddafi’s instructions. Photo/FILE
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni requested US protection for fear that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi would shoot down his plane, a leaked US embassy cable has revealed.
The two leaders have disagreed over the political and economic future of Africa.
While President Gaddafi has been at the forefront campaigning for a United States of Africa, his Ugandan counterpart thinks otherwise, the cables say.
President Museveni said he and former South African leader Thabo Mbeki, whom he blames for not offering an alternative to Libya’s approach, were then working together to counter the union proposal.
Their alternative approach envisaged by Uganda and South Africa has never been revealed as much as Libya’s union vision continues to draw mixed reactions and controversy in equal measure among African leaders.
According to the leaked cables, Ugandans see Col Gaddafi as the “problem” for the continent.
The revelations are contained in two leaked US diplomatic cables written between 2007 and 2008.
The cables also contain President Museveni’s views on several countries such as Zimbabwe, Sudan and Eritrea.
As late as 2007, he believed Khartoum was supporting the rebel LRA by smuggling supplies.
A cable written on June 18, 2008 discloses it was after a meeting five days earlier between President Museveni and former US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer that the Ugandan leader expressed growing tensions with the Arab state and fears for his life.
Arising out of their conflicting standpoints on the political unity of Africa, President Museveni feared an attack on his aircraft on President Gaddafi’s instructions.
“(President) Museveni noted that tensions with Gaddafi are growing and as a result, and he worries that Gaddafi will attack his plane while flying over international airspace.
“Museveni requested that the US and Uganda governments co-ordinate to provide additional air radar information when he flies over international airspace,” the June 18 cable states.
The cable was sent from the State Department to US embassies in Kampala, Harare, Kinshasa and Tripoli.
