A VIRTUAL COLLOQUIUM
BY
PAN AFRICAN WRITERS ASSOCIATION (PAWA)
AND
PAN AFRICANA STRATEGIC AND POLICY RESEARCH GROUP (PANAFSTRAGINTERNATIONAL)
ON
COL MUAMMAR AL-GADDAFI: MARTYR OR VILLAIN -HIS PHILOSOPHY, POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC THOUGHTS AND HIS NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND GLOBAL AFRICAN LEGACIES.
INTRODUCTION
In a interview on 25th, May 2017, Alex Kynyazev of Russia TV24 asked a Mr. Peter Koenig, a Co-author of ''The World Order and Revolution-Essays from the Resistance'', replied to a question on why Gaddafi was killed.
His reply needs to be quoted as below.
''Mr. Muammar Gaddafi was certainly not killed for humanitarian reasons. He wanted to empower Africa; he had a plan to create a new African Union based on a new African Economic System.
He had a plan to introduce the ''Gold Dinar'' as backing for African currencies so that they could become free from the dollar-dominated Western monetary System that kept and keeps usurping Africa.'' This plan was the economic pillar to the Pan African vision of Nkurumah for the Continent.
He went on to say how the ''Gold Dinar'' could have disrupted the African Banking System, disrupt the dollar-based oil trading System with the attempt by Iran to establish the Tehran Oil Bourse for trading in other currencies other than the US Dollar but in the end, the ''Gold Dinar'' was not to happen.
It was also mentioned during the interview Gaddafi's plan to introduce a wireless telephone system that would do away with the US/European monopolies with the Alcatels and AT&Ts of the world.
On the domestic front according to Mr. Koenig. ''the oil fortune had allowed him to create a social system…free healthcare, free education, at home and abroad, modern infrastructure including top notch technology and more'' for Libyans and for Libya.
However, It is difficult for one to believe Mr. Koenig that dictatorial Col. Gaddafi had 80% support of Libyans, one then wonders why he needed to ask his Libyan' Murderers ''why do you want to kill me?''
But then, it was obvious that without NATO Military interventions in the airspace with the support of USA, France, and UK; the Libyan Army would have crushed the Rebel Movements.
His African Economic Empowerment Policy and Practice which were against Western interests, have been covered in many articles and books. Therefore, it will be interesting to look at his welfarist domestic Policy and Practice and why he became so unpopular.
This Pro-Gaddafi but credible interview has demonstrated the many areas to be explored in determining the legacies of Col. Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub Saharan Africa and Multi-laterally through the CENSAD and the AUC.
He had bilaterally relations with many Francophone Countries, Religious Groups, Women Groups, and Traditional Rulers in Africa.
In the Global African Terrain (the Diaspora), he used the Petro-dollars to establish his limited influence and one doubts if his legacies still live on.
For those who love to quote and believe W. Shakespeare's words, ''that the evil that men do lives after them'', the goods are often interred in their bones.
Many Africans and European countries did see the use of Libya's petrodollars for their economic benefits but at the same time supporting him and the Libyan opposition in exile and later the Rebel Movements inside his country.
Most of these stories are known in bits and pieces, but there is a need to build a complete picture of who Gaddafi was, his life and his times.
He believed himself to be a Nasserist and Pan-Arabist; and realizing he would not make any headway with his fellow Arabs with the Western Sanctions, he re-strategized and changed course to became the Pan-Africanist who made genuine practical efforts to realize Kwame Nkurumah's Pan African dreams of a United Africa.
He went on to build a new United African State Secretariat which included Diasporic Africans in Sirte, Libya.
He had a solid political, social and economic plan for a United Nation of Africa with all the political, security, social and economic Institutions needed. He even made himself ready to become the President for an initial 5years.
The move was popular with most of the poor African countries including the Diaspora and the AUC Chair then, but was unable to convince the then big 4 of Africa namely Egypt, Algeria, South Africa and Nigeria.
The alternative and unpopular steps he took in words and deeds were his efforts to further destabilize many politically fragile countries within and outside Africa. however, some of those efforts could be justified with South Africa and Palestinian Causes as examples.
OBJECTIVE
Therefore, it is obvious that there is need to turn Shakespeare's words on its head by saying that the good and evil that Gaddafi did should not be interred with his body.
Let his two sides of the good and the evil be interrogated for lessons to be learnt; and importantly what are those lessons that can still be used for African Integration.
It will be a Colloquium that will be more of praxis than theoretical discussions, more of policies and polity rather than politics.
In short, Gaddafi may not be in the same class with Nkrumah but Nkrumah would be happy in his grave with Gaddafi's fearless initiatives, actions and activities including the supposedly negative ones which furthered the African interest rather than his personal interests.
VENUE: 14 -16 NOV,2023
PLACE: VIRTUAL
PERIOD: 12 NOON -5PM GMT DAILY
TYPE: Virtual participation.
PARTICIPATION FEE: FREE
SUB THEMES
POLITICAL IDEOLOGY AND GOVERNANCE UNDER GADDAFI REGIME
GADDAFI AFRICAN UNION POLICY AND PRACTICE
GADDAFI LIBYA INVESTMENT IN AFRICA.
GADDAFI AFRICAN DIASPORA POLICY AND PRACTICE
GADDAFI FOREIGN POLICIES AND PRACTICES
GADDAFI PROPOSAL FOR AFRO CURRENCY-VIABILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY.
GADDAFI AND AFRICAN LITERATURE
OTHER AREAS OF INTERESTS.
PROCEEDINGS WILL BE IN ARABIC, ENGLISH, FRENCH, PORTUGUESE, SPANISH AND KISWAHILI
PARTICIPANTS
Academics, Writers, Journalists, Researchers, Students and Others with interest.
SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS
Submission of 300 - word Abstract in Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Spanish or Portuguese on any of the themes is required before or on 15 AUGUST,2023 to Pawahouse@gmail.com and panafstraginternational@gmail.com
Approval of Abstract will reach those concerned by 30 AUGUST, 2023
CONFERENCE SUBMISSION WILL BE A
POWER POINT OF MAXINUN 10 PAGES FOR 20MINS PRESENTATION BY EACH PARTICIPANT BY 15 OCTOBER,2023.
DRAFT PROGRAMME WILL BE SENT TO ALL BY 20 OCTOBER 2023.
OUTPUTS
Publication of Proceedings of Peer-reviewed Scripts in Special Journal by PAWA
The Conference will be broadcast on PANAFSTRAG TV/RADIO.
Publication of Power-point presentations and Virtual recordings will be on
PANAFSTRAG Website www.panafstrag.org;
PROCEEDINGS will be published by PAWA.
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