LUSAKA, Zambia (FinalCall.com)�At the invitation of
Muammar Gadhafi, leader of the Libyan Revolution, Min. Louis Farrakhan
and his delegation attended the 37th Organization of African Unity
Conference, held here July 9-11.
Forty-one heads of states from the African continent
were represented at the conference. What made this OAU meeting the most
historical since the organization celebrated its 30th anniversary in
Cairo, Egypt, was that this marked the end of the OAU and beginning of
the African Union.
Min. Farrakhan and his delegation were the only
representatives of Africans in the Diaspora present during
deliberations. In a private meeting before his speech, Col. Gadhafi told
Min. Farrakhan that the idea of a united Africa came from outside of the
continent from Africans in the Diaspora. "This is why it is important
for the Africans in the Diaspora to not only support this initiative,
but to be a part of this process," said the Libyan leader.
Later, when Col. Gadhafi was called to the podium to
deliver a closing address to the heads of state, he asked the conference
chairman to allow Min. Farrakhan to have a few words. Col. Gadhafi
stressed in public what he had said in private, that Blacks in the
Diaspora are important to this process. He made a strong appeal to the
conference coordinators to permit Min. Farrakhan, a leader of Blacks in
the Diaspora, to address the conference.
In the middle of his appeal, there was a power
failure and the auditorium went black. Col. Gadhafi�s security
surrounded him while waiting for the lights to return. Nation of Islam
Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan and Sultan Muhammad, a member of the
Minister�s security detail, immediately surrounded Min. Farrakhan. When
the power was restored, Col. Gadhafi concluded his remarks.
Zambian President Frederick Chiluba, conference host
and the person chosen to serve for one year as the head of the newly
formed African Union, did not acknowledge Col. Gadhafi�s request. He
proceeded to offer closing remarks. There was some talk at the
conference that the blackout was intentional and blamed on a mysterious
fire at the power station. The next day, one newspaper reported the
power was intentionally cut and the fire was an act of sabotage.
Min. Farrakhan met with many heads of state after the
conference. His trip was a long and difficult one, which took Min.
Farrakhan from Chicago to Zurich, Switzerland to Johannesburg, South
Africa non-stop. From Johannesburg to Lusaka, Zambia he journeyed in a
private plane, traveling more than 24 hours to the OAU conference.
Min. Farrakhan was able to discuss the pressing
problems and challenges of the countries and regions of Africa with the
heads of state. He had an extensive conversation with Robert Mugabe,
president of Zimbabwe, on the issue of land being returned to its
original owners, the Black people of Zimbabwe.
With President Chissano of Mozambique, the Minister
discussed the state of the economy and the aftermath of tremendous
floods that devastated the country. President Museveni of Uganda met
with and extended an invitation for Min. Farrakhan to visit Uganda.
The leader of the Nation of Islam and Sierra Leone�s
President Ahmed Tijan Kabbah talked about the current struggle to
stabilize his government. The new presidents of Ghana, Somalia, and Cote
D�Ivoire also met with Min. Farrakhan, who exchanged greetings with
President Obasanjo of Nigeria, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa,
and President Sam Njomo of Namibia.
Min. Farrakhan held extensive talks with Omar Bashir,
president of Sudan, concerning the question of slavery in the country.
Photos: #1-(L-R) Min. Akbar Muhammad, New AU Secretary
General Amara Essy and Min. Farrakhan; #2- (L-R) Nation of Islam Supreme
Captain Mustapha Farrakhan, Min. Akbar Muhammad, President Chissano of
Mozambique, Minister Farrakhan and daughter Fatima Farrakhan Muhammad;
#3-Min. Farrakhan greets President Wade of Senegal and President Gbagbo
of Cote D'Ivoire
