African Union Summit reveals deep divisions over what happened in Zimbabwe

The African Union, meeting in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, showed that Africa is divided as to what happened in Zimbabwe and do not know what to do with more media figure this: Robert Mugabe.

“Africa should fully assume their responsibilities are and what you’re doing everything in its power to help the parties overcome the challenges,” said the chairman of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, at the opening of the summit of the organisation which brings together 53 nations.

Although pressed on several fronts, particularly by European countries, U.S. and UN but also by some Africans, the AU shows serious internal divisions that prevent that there is a consensus to condemn the president of Zimbabwe. Although less visible media, countries such as Russia and China seek to add points in Africa, not aligning with the criticism of Robert Mugabe.

Evidence that the older leaders of Africa are seeing the situation in Zimbabwe as a neocolonial interference was yesterday given exactly the oldest African head of state, the president of Gabon

Saying that “before or now, Africa is not obliged to follow orders from abroad, on the contrary,” Omar Bongo Ondimba has no doubts: “Mugabe was elected, provided oath, is here with us, so he is president and not we can ask nothing more. ”

The president of Gabon told reporters that President Mugabe was welcomed as a hero, “explaining to the most sceptical that” elections in Zimbabwe were made and that Robert Mugabe won. ”

In power since 1967, Omar Bongo Ondimba said, “as more former Head of State, it can say what many others think but that at this time and for various reasons, has no courage to say”. In other words, “Africa is, at least most, with Robert Mugabe.”

“There was a time when Africa had to do what Europe wanted, despite being in disagreement. Today no country or organization has the authority to tell Africans what they should do,” added the president of Gabon for whom, incidentally, ” other countries and other African leaders should follow the example of Robert Mugabe. “