Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday spilled secrets about events towards the downfall of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Museveni who was delivering a speech after swearing-in for another five year term of office, said he and former South African President Jacob Zuma were preparing to scramble forces to counter when Tripoli fell.
“First of all, the situation in Libya, was created by the arrogant and irresponsible actions of some actors that took actions that were against the express position of the African Union. I can reveal to you now, that those actors, had a narrow escape,” Museveni started.
He added, “When some actors started attacking Libya against the decision of the African Union, I contacted H.E. Jacob Zuma of South Africa for African Armies, that so decided, to intervene in Libya and confront and teach a lesson to those aggressors.”
October 20, 2011 was the day on which longtime Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was deposed. He was captured and killed in his home town of Sirte.
Local rebel groups were aided by western forces, specifically, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to overthrow the man who had ruled Libya for close to five decades.
Museveni revealed that they were let down by Gaddafi who chose to flee Tripoli at the height of the conflict, saying he wanted the fallen Libyan leader to turn the capital into Stalingrad.
“We were let down by Muammar Gaddaffi who abandoned Tripoli without a fight. Although, at that time, I did not have direct link with Muammar Gaddaffi, I advised his envoy who came to see me, to turn Tripoli into a Stalingrad,” Museveni revealed.
The Battle of Stalingrad was a brutal military campaign between Russian forces and those of Nazi Germany and the Axis powers during World War II. The battle is infamous as one of the largest, longest and bloodiest engagements in modern warfare: From August 1942 through February 1943. The battle was eventually won by the Russians.
Museveni added, “With H.E. Jacob Zuma, we had to work out a solution for the air-craft and cruise missiles that attack defenceless people from far away, so that if the aggressors so wished, could come on the ground and we fight man to man. Such a confrontation would, of course, have been imposed on us unnecessarily. We have, since long time ago, stated that African patriots, like we in the NRM, are neither pro-West nor pro-East. We are, first and foremost, pro-Africa. It is on account of that, that good friends should only deal with contentious strategic African issues via the African Union.”
Today, Libya is split between rival governments ruling different parts of the oil rich country.