THE IMPARTIAL OBSERVER
MATTERS OF THE MOMENT
Endgame for Gaddafi
HANK ESO
Friday 21
October 2011
Gaddafi is dead, that’s a reality. His death is almost anti-climactic.
However, in life and death, Gaddafi remains controversial….
With Gaddafi gone, there is no common
enemy, which creates room for primordial interests to become manifest. Without
proper care and management, his ghost will haunt Libya more than he did alive.
As
expected by many, former Libyan strongman, Muammar Gaddafi, who came to power by
the force of arms in 1969, died this week by the force of arms at age 69. Like
all despots, Gaddafi lived and ruled bizarrely and likewise, died bizarrely by
the sword. That was hardly
surprising. But it was also his
choice, based on faux invincibility
that is the trait of most despots, until the very revolting end. Not many are
shedding tears for him – not at home and not abroad!
Gaddafi derided his people calling them
“rats,” but as fate would have
it, it was they who killed him like a rat after reportedly hauling him a
"sewage pipe".
Therein lies the greatest lesson of all for those in power and those who
seek power. True leadership rest on heeding the voice of the people, for always,
the people will have the final say.
Gaddafi is dead, that’s a reality. Incidentally his death is
almost anti-climactic. Still, in life and death, Gaddafi remains controversial.
As things stand, concern is already being raised that Gaddafi might have been
executed while in captivity. Photos and
videos in the public domain seem to confirm as much. If that is the case, then
issues abound that relate to violation of fundamental principles of
international law, prisoners of war and human rights conventions and indeed,
prohibitions against extrajudicial killings. That being the case, the euphoria
of those who killed him might be short-lived.
Convenient as Gaddafi’s exit is, the international community cannot turn
a blind eye to the manner of his death. If so, those who killed him are no
better than him, not by any measure.
Nonetheless, Libya will have to move on and avoid the haunting
ghost of Gaddafi’s martyrdom. Such
martyrdom cannot be wished away since there are many in and outside Libya who
will seek to capitalize on it, especially if the TNC does not deliver dividends
of democracy expeditiously and if they do not clean up their act and embark on
true reconciliation.
So, what is next for Libya and can the nation rally around one
leader and from which tribe? Aside
from the ravages of war, Libya is in disarray. Lest we forget, there were
already numerous casualties on both sides of this uneven and ill-defined civil
war. There were many collateral
damages and more will become manifest in due course.
The serving TNC prime minister, Mahmoud
Jibril, is already past his primetime in that office, courtesy of trenchant
critics of the Council. Now that
the booties of war must be shared, his successor-in-office will walk on eggshell
until the dust of the war settles, which won’t be for a while.
There will also be other challenges, aside from reconciliation
and rebuilding Libya. Expectedly, Libyans will seek full ownership of the
post-war processes. But the
political and power-sharing process will prove fractious and halting.
Post-Najibula Afghanistan and post-Saddam Iraq serve as stark examples.
Of all challenges, disarmament and rebuilding the Libyan
military and police force will be tops.
In the throes of war that granted unfettered room to all comers, Libya
had become a haven for terrorist infiltrates.
Hence, while the containment of rogue rebels with affiliation to or
sympathy for terrorist groups will also be a pressing and top priority issue on
the international agenda, it might not necessarily be so for the Libyans.
Even now, there are too many guns in private hands, and in a post-war
environment, those who are sufficiently armed will hold sway over strategic
negotiations and leadership choices.
These realities cannot be taken for granted.
Moreover, the temptation to mete out agonizing reprisals
against Gaddafi supporters and perceived mercenaries now in custody will be
rife, if not overpowering. Some will deem such acts justifiable under the
circumstances. Were such allowed to
happen, it will exacerbate tribal divisions ensuring that the adverse residual
impact of this revolution would linger awhile.
Curiously, and rather precipitously, the endgame for Gaddafi
has been interpreted by some as a new beginning for Libya. Surely as it is the
end of a sorry and painful era for Libyans, it is by no means the end of
history, which is just merely unfolding. The task of liberating Libya has only
just begun and Libyans will declare Liberation Day anytime soon. But many
circles will need to be squared before a return to normalcy and peace and
security in that country.
Meanwhile, Libya is like broken china in the sun.
The brittle pieces are clearly visible but too many and therefore,
extremely hard to put together.
What is more troubling is that with Gaddafi gone, there is no longer a common
enemy, which creates room for primordial interests to become manifest. Without
proper care and proper management, Gaddafi’s ghost will haunt Libya more than he
did alive. Only time will
tell.
With neither anger nor partiality, until next time, keep the law, stay
impartial, and observe closely.
--------
Hank Eso
is a columnist for
Kwenu.com.
His observations on Nigerian, African and global politics and related issues,
has appeared in various print media, journals and internet-based sites.
© Hank Eso,
21 October 2011.
Email:
hankeso@aol.com