Moammar Gadhafi Elected as Leader of African Union

Moammar Gadhafi, the Libyan leader who lost a sword-rattling contest with President Ronald Reagan and the United States during the 1980s, is seemingly back after years of isolation that probably left some wondering if he was even alive. As it turns out, Gadhafi is not only alive, but is at the forefront of a movement to increase Libya’s stature in the world and throughout the African continent. In keeping with that motif, Gadhafi was elected yesterday as the leader of the African Union, a position he has sought for quite some time.

While Gadhafi has spent recent years mediating conflicts in Africa, sponsoring the spread of Islam on the continent and pushing for a unified, single African government, other African leaders are at least somewhat skeptical of the eccentric leader. Various rights groups noted that Gadhafi was a bad choice for Africa at a time when democracy is being reduced in various countries throughout the region. The position of chairman of the African Union is one that rotates and is held by various African heads of state for a period of one year. And, while leaders from several countries noted serious opposition to the selection of Gadhafi, seeking instead to install leaders from either Lesotho or Sierra Leone, others we quite supportive. Said Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, "I think his time has come. He’s worked for it. I think it’s up to us to make sure it comes out best."

Throughout the world, there are certainly mixed feelings about the recent election. Gadhafi was a notorious sponsor of terrorism in the 1980s and, according to Reed Body, a lawyer with Human Rights Watch, "The Libyan government continues to imprison people for criticizing Gadhafi. Hundreds more have ‘disappeared.’ Libya has no independent NGOs and the government tightly controls all forms of public expression."