Clinton Urges Africans to Abandon Gadhafi

African Union leaders should adopt democratic reforms, Clinton says
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 14, 2011 3:18 AM CDT
Clinton Urges Africans to Abandon Gadhafi
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses the African Union Commission at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, POOL)

It's time for Moammar Gadhafi's remaining African allies to defriend the dictator, Hillary Clinton told African leaders yesterday. Clinton, the first American secretary of state to address the African Union, warned the 53-member organization that without reforms, other African leaders could fall to uprisings like the ones sweeping the Arab world, Reuters reports. Clinton had planned to spend the night in the Ethiopian capital after addressing the EU, but departed early because of volcanic ash from an eruption in neighboring Eritrea, reports AP.

"Too many people in Africa still live under long-standing rulers—men who care too much about the longevity of their reign and too little about the legacy that should be built for their countries' future," she said. "Some even claim to believe in democracy defined as one election, one time." Clinton acknowledged that Gadhafi had provided financial support to many African nations and institutions, including the AU, but said his abuses mean "it has become clear that we are long past the day when he can remain in power." (More Hillary Clinton stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X