The African Union and Democracy - Miles Apart

Ah, the reliable old African Union. Is there anyone out there who is surprised by their support for Mugabe and his election? The AU is the successor to the infamous Organisation of African Unity and that must have been in the running for the most odious organisation on the planet.

No matter how disgusting you are, the OAU will open its arms to you. Members have included mass murderers, genocidists, cannibals, child rapists, the completely insane and the nastiest despots.

Their annual conference was marked by two events every year:

1. A punchup on the conference floor
2. Armed guards patrolling the hotel and conference floors to stop the delegates from killing each other.

The thuggish behaviour of Mugabe's goons at the conference shows that a mere change of name hasn't really altered the brutal culture that the organisation either finds acceptable or is too supine to do anything about.

One only has to look at Mbeki, the Neville Chamberlin of the continent, to see the continent wide failure of leadership the organisation represents, a failure his predecessor accused Mugabe of. It that all, Nelson? Is that all you noticed about Mugabe? Is that all you have to say?

Still at least Mbeki was able to swap tips on curing AIDS with President Jammeh, who had a cure revealed to him in a dream and now treats people himself, but only on Thursdays.