On the 12 August 2008, a seasoned South African diplomat Mr. Luvuyo Ndimeni gave us (youth activists and leaders) a lecture on the United Nations and other Multi-lateral bodies. On that Africa Youth Day he emphasised the fundamental in multi-lateral affairs and resolution drafting as being the logic of language. In his three hour long lecture he argued that the most brutal resolutions are passed through the use of "diplomatic language". His plea to us was that we must always read between the lines when reading multi-lateral text. He argued that the devil lies in the text. The ABC of diplomacy therefore is thorough analysis of text and language before agreeing to any proposed resolution.
The "Arab Spring" (Arab Revolutions) that began in Tunisia and currently taking place in Yemen and Syria has resulted in a number of governments being toppled and many people killed. The "Revolutions" whether orchestrated by the West in order to install puppet regimes already have a place in history. Many like me will remember that in as much as the "Revolutions" might have removed some "dictators", they also removed one of the greatest leaders and defenders of the African continent. It is highly unfortunate that we as South Africa have a hand in the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi
South Africa pulled a Kirsten Nematandani during Bafana Bafana's qualification (lack of) to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2011. We were simply ignorant of the most basic fundamental of the game. In public diplomacy and multilateral relations, the basic fundamental of the game is thorough interpretation and analysis of the text. When we ratified the UN resolution 1973 on Libya, we failed to analyse the text and read between the lines. Therefore, by default we have Gaddafi's blood on our hands
The deadly text that we failed to interpret from the UN resolution 1973 on Libya reads:
Authorises member states that have notified the secretary-general, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, and acting in co-operation with the secretary-general, to take all necessary measures, notwithstanding paragraph 9 of resolution 1970 (2011), to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory, and requests the member states concerned to inform the secretary-general immediately of the measures they take pursuant to the authorization conferred by this paragraph which shall be immediately reported to the Security Council;
Having gone through a crash course in diplomacy, I immediately froze when I read the then proposed resolution. South Africa, signed... President Zuma recently lashed out at Western powers accusing them of abusing the resolution in order to effect "regime change, political assassination and foreign military occupation". Did our government fail to read between the lines? Did we fail to implement the ABC of multi-literalism?
After we committed an almost unforgivable blunder, we literally zigzagged on our stunts on Libya. We moved from recognising our role in advancing the African agenda to accepting the installation of a puppet regime. On the day South Africa decided to recognise the "National Transitional Council" (rebels) in Libya, I penned;
Ah, mzomhl' ophuphum' ubisi
Khaya ndin' olunamasi angudinga sithebe
Inkomo zenu zibiz' izizwe
Zizwe ndini, nazo bezinokwanela
Bawubonil' umsantsa phakathi kwenu
Balithengisile inkrele labo kuni
Bazasikrazul' isisu senu batyis' abantwakwabo
Yahamb' ioli yenu
Bazakulisulel' entlok' ilifa lenu
Ziyagida izitha zakho mzomz' omhl' iAfrika
Lusengxakin' umanyano lweAfrica
Bamthengisil' umntakwab' uSandile
Bamthengisil' uGaddafi!
It is only befitting that after the fall of Colonel Gaddafi, the last two lines read;
They sold their brother Sandile
They sold Gaddafi!
With Gaddafi gone, the ANC Youth League then asks; "who is next"?
Weep today Africa, for in tomorrow there may be no today for you to weep!
Olwethu Sipuka: Centurion
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