6 Revolutionary African Leaders Who Influenced Global Affairs

Haile Selassie

Haile Selassie’s influence and bravado on the world stage is no doubt one of the greatest examples of showmanship ever displayed by an African leader. Born in Harar, Ethiopia, in 1892, he grew up learning political intrigues and art while growing up at court in Addis Ababa. Like Kwame Nkrumah, he was one of the outstanding African leaders who worked tirelessly for independence of African states and a United States of Africa.

He defeated the Italian Fascists’ Invasion of Ethiopia from 1935-1941. His knowledge of the world was buoyed by his exposure to various countries and ability to speak several languages. Selassie constructed the building that accommodated African leaders in Addis Ababa; his faith in the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was repaid when he became the first African leader to serve as Chairman of the OAU more than once. It was to his credit that Africa participated in peacekeeping missions all over the world. He sent Ethiopian troops under the United Nations to the Korean War and the Congo Crisis, just to mention a few.

Selassie fought bravely against Italian invasion and when his nation was conquered, he gave a powerful speech at the United Nations for the organisation to come to his country’s aid. He struggled and gave all as an Ethiopian nationalist, leader and as a committed Pan-Africanist. Till today, the details of his death are wrapped in mystery.

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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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