African Union refuses to recognise Libyan Rebels

The African Union has still refused to recognise the rebel National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of Libya, despite the fact that Gaddafi's regime is no longer in control of the country or the capital.

President Zuma who is also the chairman for the AU committee on Libya has stated the reason for this is that Tripoli is still not under full rebel control, “fighting is still going on. That is the reality. We can't say this is a legitimate (government) now. The process is fluid.”

The AU has called for the formation of "an inclusive transitional government, the establishment of a constitutional and legislative framework for the democratic transformation of Libya as well as for support towards the organisation of elections and a national reconciliation process".

The stance of the AU is the same as the ANC, they both want an “inclusive” government also represented by Gaddafi's regime and will not solely recognise the rebels as the legitimate government while fighting carries on.

To expect the rebels to invite their enemy whose military were on the path to “fill the streets with blood” of the rebel held cities back into government, and who have now been militarily defeated would be illogical and would simply allow the regime they defeated to reassemble again.

Zuma and the AU's argument that they won't recognise the rebel government because the rebels don't have 'full' control of Tripoli lacks credibility.
They are equating a governments control of a country on account of it's possession of the capital, which is absurd, but even more so since all that is left of the 'government' are a few scattered enclaves of armed groups.

The government has already fled and is in hiding.

The remaining die-hards still fighting are those that now have nothing left to lose, and know that if they are captured their end would be worse than to die fighting.

If the AU and ANC really want to look at some sort of historical basis to base their views on that of 'those who control the capital control the country', then unfortunately for them: the walls have been breached, the enemy have stormed the city, and the King has fled.

Unfortunately none of the media are asking the glaring question, namely: 'What does such fervent support for Gaddafi and his regime say about the nature of the AU and ANC?'

And why does a 'liberation movement' and the AU so strongly support African dictators instead of those struggling for democracy? First in Zimbabwe and now in Libya.

The African Union and the ANC have shown that they would rather support a dictatorship than to see a 'liberation movement' deposed by a popular uprising backed by the West and thus setting a precedent.

For their leadership, this is an uncomfortable thought.