Africa Summit Plays Nice With Mugabe

If Zimbabwe’s Thug-for-Life Robert Mugabe had any worry about the reception he would face at the African Union summit at Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort on Monday, he can exhale. Mugabe received a leader’s welcome and only modest challenge as he sailed through his first international meeting since being reinstalled as Zimbabwean president after a sham election.

Times Online:

… [P]rotest from African leaders at the summit was muted, even as Western leaders from France, the United States and Canada joined Britain in ratcheting up pressure on the AU to reject Mr Mugabe’s authority. …

… African leaders gathering at the Egyptian Red Sea resort appeared reluctant to launch an outright challenge to Mr Mugabe’s rule for fear that it would propel the country into deeper turmoil.

There was also a sense that any criticism levelled by certain leaders would be dismissed, given the poor democratic track records of their own countries.

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Update:

Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for Mugabe’s suspension until Zimbabweans are allowed a fair election.