/ 21 September 2007

Gordon Brown or Robert Mugabe?

Gordon Brown or Robert Mugabe? One won’t go to a summit between Europe and Africa in December, but the Portuguese hosts say the potential rewards of closer ties between the two continents outweigh the antagonism between the leaders of Britain and Zimbabwe.

The 27-nation European Union is keen to recover the ground it has lost in Africa over recent years, especially to China, whose influence has soared on the back of billions of euros in aid and investment.

Africa may be the world’s poorest continent, but it still offers plenty of potential business. Portugal’s efforts to ensure European countries regain their purchase in Africa have the backing of the African Union and the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch.

The subject is of ”extraordinary importance”, EU spokesperson Johannes Laitenberger said on Friday. ”We need to inject new dynamism into our relations. A mutual strategy must be put in place.”

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, who was invited to speak at the 53-member AU’s summit in July, said Africa is an ”incomprehensible omission” in EU foreign policy. ”Our political relationship needs a new push forward. That is what the times demand,” he said.

But the issue of Zimbabwe, which for years has hamstrung efforts to forge closer ties, could once again thwart the plan.

Mugabe’s critics accuse him of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption and contempt for democracy. He accuses his domestic opposition and the West of colluding to destroy his economy, which suffers acute shortages and inflation that, according to the International Monetary Fund, may hit 100 000% by the end of the year.

British Prime Minister Brown said on Thursday he would not attend the December 8 and 9 AU-EU summit in Lisbon if Mugabe went. Brown also said he wants to expand an EU travel ban and asset freeze on Mugabe and other government members.

‘No right to dictate’

Zimbabwe’s UN ambassador, Boniface Chidyausiku, was quoted as telling the BBC Mugabe would attend. ”Gordon Brown has no right to dictate who should come to Lisbon,” Chidyausiku said. ”Definitely we are going if we are invited because we are part of Africa.”

Former British prime minister Tony Blair stayed away from the first EU-Africa summit in Cairo seven years ago because of Mugabe’s presence. In 2003, an EU-African summit in Lisbon was called off when some African nations balked at the EU’s refusal to invite Mugabe.

Portuguese officials have made no secret of their distaste for Mugabe’s regime. But they insist the EU’s Africa strategy cannot be held hostage by the issue. ”This is much more important than Mr Mugabe,” Portugal’s Foreign Minister, Luis Amado, said.

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Joao Gomes Cravinho, who is organising the summit, said on Friday the EU will not pull its punches at the talks. ”We are drawing up with the African Union a completely new basis for dialogue based in four areas: good governance, democracy and human rights; regional integration and trade; development aid; and peace and stability on the African continent,” he said.

However, Brown’s boycott threat — and Mugabe’s determination to attend — suggests the plan is unravelling.

African unity

African leaders are expected to stand with Mugabe, some out of respect for his past opposition to colonialism, some resentful at appearing to be dictated to by the West, and some out of conviction dialogue is the best way to bring change in Zimbabwe.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, who has significant influence across the continent, has long been an advocate at quiet diplomacy, accusing the West of taking a confrontational approach that has yielded little but defiance from Mugabe. This week, both the Zimbabwean government and its main political opposition reported progress at talks Mbeki has mediated aimed at resolving Zimbabwe’s political and economic crises.

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said he would not go to Portugal if Mugabe were barred.

”That is not to say that I agree and am happy with the situation in Zimbabwe, but I feel there is need to continue dialoguing with our colleagues in Zimbabwe,” Mwanawasa told journalists, according to the state-owned Times of Zambia.

On the other side, Portuguese diplomats fear Nordic countries may line up behind Britain.

Tom Cargill, the Africa programme manager at London-based think tank Chatham House, said the quarrel between Britain and Zimbabwe is hijacking the summit — and potentially dooms it.

”It’s looking like it’s going to be a mess either way,” he said. ”It’s a real problem, because they need to have a summit, but already the Zimbabwe issue has clouded things.” — Sapa-AP