Qaddafi’s African dream
Libya’s ruler dreams of a United States of Africa, with himself as leader. His people are less enthusiastic
THE road to Tripoli airport testifies to Muammar Qaddafi's shifting ideology. First come the signs for Arab unity, rusting badly. Then, the slogans heralding Libya's ruler as the head of revolutionary Islam. Those too are beginning to rust. Finally, on the approach to the airport, the signs for African unity. “We are so proud to be Africans,” read the billboards, which display a continent coloured black but for a green Libya, basking in the rising rays of the sun.
This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “Qaddafi’s African dream”
From the September 16th 2000 edition
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