6 Revolutionary African Leaders Who Influenced Global Affairs

Gamel Abdel Nasser

Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was one of the most iconic African leaders of the 20th century.  The second president of Egypt, he was very vocal about pan-Arab unity and social justice. Nasser led Egypt during the controversial wars with Israel and during the North Yemen Civil War. He was particularly active in the establishment of the Arab League Summit. His support for communism and pan-Arabism is likely part of the reason for his issues with the US and its allies during his campaign. In spite of opposition from governments of Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, etc., his popularity and honour continue to soar in the Arab world.

Nasser’s heroism was not an accident; he began to read voraciously while still in secondary school, coming in contact with books that changed his thinking about the world including the biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Mahatma Gandhi, to mention a few. He did not believe in rhetoric; rather, he believed Egypt’s freedom would only be achieved through force. He joined the army and in 1951, he organized the attack against British forces in the Suez Canal region.

Nasser was feared and intimidating on the world stage, but he retains the support of his people such that his funeral drew over 5 million mourners and caused widespread grief.

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Adedeji Ademola

Adedeji Ademola is a Staff Contributor of Face2Face Africa. He holds a B.A (Hons) in History and Diplomatic Studies from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria and an MBA degree with specialization in General Management and Entrepreneurship as well as a Master of Science degree in International Relations both from the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He was a recipient of the Guerrand Hermes Foundation for Peace Scholarship in 2006. He got the Best Student Leader award and also a merit award from the Faculty of Arts Students Association during his undergraduate days. Adedeji is a development strategist/activist and youth empowerment advocate. He is a Member, African Studies Association of the UK; Member, Royal African Society; Member, African Institute of Business Simulations, etc. His main research interests are in Politics, Society and Governance in West Africa, Africa inter-state relations, emerging powers, security, democratization and regional integration in West Africa. He has published articles in local and international journals; public media, among other several works.

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  • Forgive me, but is this article written by an African?

    Col. Gadhaffi asked the American, Italian And British ambassadors who came to see him on learning his intentions to close their army, air and naval bases in Libya “Are there any Libyan soldiers in your countries?” they replied “No”. He then asked “Is Libya at war with America, Italy or Britain?” again, they said “No”.

    So he told them he saw no reason why their soldiers should be in Libya and the matter was closed.

    When he came to power, a barrel of oil cost ¢ 40. He organized the oil producers and, within a year it was costing US $ 20.

    The privileges of Libyan citizens, each of whom, man, woman and child, received a cash share of the oil revenues cannot be enumerated here. Suffice it to say that they paid no taxes, no water or power bills, every couple who wed received US $ 50,000 to buy and furnish a home and every mother who got a baby received US $ 5,000 to care for the baby properly. Everyone who wanted to farm received 6 acres of land and inputs including the farm house or tractor…free of charge.

    The West always has an excuse to remove someone they don’t like…sometime back, it was communist, then dictator then, as we saw with Saddam Hussein, weapons of mass destruction.

    It is worth mentioning that one of Col Gadhaffi’s best friends was Nelson Mandela, who, on being warned by the British and Americans, said he knows how to choose his friends. They were pained because, soon after is release, Pres. Mandela received 2 serviced and crewed Boeing 747’s for Col. Gadhaffi with which to tour the world.

    The whole world did not turn against Col Gadhaffi and 5 African leaders were on their way to Libya as NATO was bombing the country but France, in effect told them they would shoot down their plane.

    The main reason why Col. Gadhaffi was killed was because he was fast-tracking the African monetary union, a program of the AU, part of African integration.

    He had gathered 130 tons of gold to back up the pan-African currency which meant, among other things that:

    .1 Africa’s produce, especially cocoa and coffee, would fetch about 5 times what they now do.

    .2 The 13 West and central African “Pacte Coloniale” countries, effectively French colonies from which France extracts a substantial part of her GDP would be free. France would have become a poor country leading to EU collapse.

    That gold, plus US $ 30 b in reserves was stolen by the West.

    The African political union is not a dream, but a plan drawn by the founders of the organisation of African unity, spearheaded by Osagyefo Nkrumah, Pres. Kenneth Kaunda and Mwalimu Nyerere. The recent Tripartite Free Trade Area of 600 m Africans in 26 countries is another move in the unity drive.

    Col. Gadhaffi is the furthest person you can think of in terms of corruption. He said his own parents would not get a house until all other Libyans had one.

    Col Gadhaffi was killed by a French agent after his capture by Qatari regulars disguised as Libyan rebels.

    If you are an African, take care where you get your information, otherwise, some stuff you say insults us and our intelligence.

  • I see you are well aware of the fallacy of Col. Gadhaffi’s alleged united Africa dream because elsewhere you write of Osagyefo Nkrumah - His passion and drive for a united Africa earned him the title of “Father of Pan-Africanism.”

    In 1958 when young Muammar was 17….

    So which s which?

    Please do not write stuff that misleads our children.

  • Perhaps you might have mentioned that the united states ambassador was instrumental in the coup against the Osagyefo, same as the murders of Togolese Pres Olympio and Premier Lumumba of the Congo.

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