EU Ruffles Kenya’s Feathers
April 3, 2014
Tendai Mugabe and Sifelani Tsiko
Zimbabwe Herald
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta threatened to cancel his participation in the European Union-Africa Summit in Brussels after Belgium denied his top security aide, Mr Edward Mbugua, a visa. Belgium gave in to pressure from Nairobi and issued Mr Mbugua a visa at the last minute. Several African leaders, including President Mugabe, stayed away from the summit because of the EU’s cherry-picking of African delegates among other issues.
The EU-Africa Summit that opened yesterday with 36 African Heads of State and Government in attendance ends today.
Leaders in attendance ignored an African Union Peace and Security Council recommendation to postpone the meeting because the EU was holding the continent in contempt by determining eligible participants.
The EU invited Egypt – whose African Union membership is suspended following last year’s military coup – but did not invite Eritrea.
The bloc also stiff-armed the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, which is an AU member. However, the EU invited Morocco, which pulled out of the AU in 1984 because the continent recognised SADR’s independence from the North African monarchy.
President Mugabe, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma and President Joyce Banda of Malawi decided to skip the meeting.
The EU denied a visa to First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, decision that veteran Zambian politician Mr Vernon Mwaanga has described as “very silly”.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs principal secretary Mr Karanja Kibicho said: “The trip had earlier been cancelled by State House due to the unexplained refusal by Belgium to issue an EU travel visa to the head of presidential security.
“The refusal of a visa for a vital member of the Kenyan delegation sent the wrong signal that the EU is in a position even to dictate even the security arrangements of African heads of state. These actions in their totality make for unfortunate precedent in the proper running of international relations. The government notes that if indeed the EU-Africa Summit is intended to advance mutual interests, such a worthwhile goal must be rooted in the recognition that Africa and EU countries are meeting in Brussels as partners and equals.”
He also slammed the non-invitation of the legitimate leaders of Eritrea, the Sudan and the SADR.
Kenyan media quoted sources saying Belgium gave in when President Kenyatta threatened to bypass the summit and said he would recall Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed, who was already in Brussels.
It is understood that Uganda, Ethiopia and Rwanda also indicated they would not attend, forcing Brussels into submission.
Zimbabwe took a bold decision, in line with the AU’s January resolution that Africa should not attend the summit if the EU interfered with the selection of African delegations.
Meanwhile, veteran politician Mr Vernon Mwaanga told the Post of Zambia newspaper that the EU’s decision to deny Amai Mugabe a visa was unfair .
“These restrictions, as far as I am concerned, by the EU, are just silly, you know, because after the last election which was certified largely free and fair by African leaders through the AU observation mission led by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, the world should have accepted Africa’s judgment in this matter,” he was quoted saying.
“The fact that they didn’t accept Africa’s judgment in this matter means that they don’t respect African leaders. So, I certainly stand by and support President Mugabe’s decision not to attend the summit on account of the fact that his wife is not being allowed to go and attend.”
Mr Mwaanga urged African leaders at the summit, including Zambia’s President Michael Sata, to speak out strongly on the issue.
“I hope that the African leaders in Brussels, that includes President Sata, will make that point because these European leaders, you know, they want to start dictating to African leaders what they need to be doing, which is unacceptable,” said Mr Mwaanga.
“Even when they, African leaders, certify their own elections as free and fair, they, European leaders, say no! We can’t accept the certification, which means they have no respect for African leaders. So, I hope African leaders who are at this summit will make this point very strong so that some of these silly decisions being made can end, you know.”
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| Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been under fire from the West. |
Tendai Mugabe and Sifelani Tsiko
Zimbabwe Herald
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta threatened to cancel his participation in the European Union-Africa Summit in Brussels after Belgium denied his top security aide, Mr Edward Mbugua, a visa. Belgium gave in to pressure from Nairobi and issued Mr Mbugua a visa at the last minute. Several African leaders, including President Mugabe, stayed away from the summit because of the EU’s cherry-picking of African delegates among other issues.
The EU-Africa Summit that opened yesterday with 36 African Heads of State and Government in attendance ends today.
Leaders in attendance ignored an African Union Peace and Security Council recommendation to postpone the meeting because the EU was holding the continent in contempt by determining eligible participants.
The EU invited Egypt – whose African Union membership is suspended following last year’s military coup – but did not invite Eritrea.
The bloc also stiff-armed the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, which is an AU member. However, the EU invited Morocco, which pulled out of the AU in 1984 because the continent recognised SADR’s independence from the North African monarchy.
President Mugabe, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma and President Joyce Banda of Malawi decided to skip the meeting.
The EU denied a visa to First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, decision that veteran Zambian politician Mr Vernon Mwaanga has described as “very silly”.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs principal secretary Mr Karanja Kibicho said: “The trip had earlier been cancelled by State House due to the unexplained refusal by Belgium to issue an EU travel visa to the head of presidential security.
“The refusal of a visa for a vital member of the Kenyan delegation sent the wrong signal that the EU is in a position even to dictate even the security arrangements of African heads of state. These actions in their totality make for unfortunate precedent in the proper running of international relations. The government notes that if indeed the EU-Africa Summit is intended to advance mutual interests, such a worthwhile goal must be rooted in the recognition that Africa and EU countries are meeting in Brussels as partners and equals.”
He also slammed the non-invitation of the legitimate leaders of Eritrea, the Sudan and the SADR.
Kenyan media quoted sources saying Belgium gave in when President Kenyatta threatened to bypass the summit and said he would recall Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed, who was already in Brussels.
It is understood that Uganda, Ethiopia and Rwanda also indicated they would not attend, forcing Brussels into submission.
Zimbabwe took a bold decision, in line with the AU’s January resolution that Africa should not attend the summit if the EU interfered with the selection of African delegations.
Meanwhile, veteran politician Mr Vernon Mwaanga told the Post of Zambia newspaper that the EU’s decision to deny Amai Mugabe a visa was unfair .
“These restrictions, as far as I am concerned, by the EU, are just silly, you know, because after the last election which was certified largely free and fair by African leaders through the AU observation mission led by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, the world should have accepted Africa’s judgment in this matter,” he was quoted saying.
“The fact that they didn’t accept Africa’s judgment in this matter means that they don’t respect African leaders. So, I certainly stand by and support President Mugabe’s decision not to attend the summit on account of the fact that his wife is not being allowed to go and attend.”
Mr Mwaanga urged African leaders at the summit, including Zambia’s President Michael Sata, to speak out strongly on the issue.
“I hope that the African leaders in Brussels, that includes President Sata, will make that point because these European leaders, you know, they want to start dictating to African leaders what they need to be doing, which is unacceptable,” said Mr Mwaanga.
“Even when they, African leaders, certify their own elections as free and fair, they, European leaders, say no! We can’t accept the certification, which means they have no respect for African leaders. So, I hope African leaders who are at this summit will make this point very strong so that some of these silly decisions being made can end, you know.”
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