Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has criticized African leaders for failing to take a decisive stand on restoring peace and stability in Libya and Sudan.
Speaking during a meeting with Algeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Youcef Cherfa, at the African Union Extraordinary Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Museveni described the ongoing suffering in Libya and Sudan as “unacceptable” and a betrayal of the democracy for which Africans fought.
Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 ousting of leader Col Muammar Gaddafi by US-backed forces. Despite efforts by the United Nations to form a Government of National Unity, peace and stability remain elusive in the North African nation.
“This is worse than slavery, it’s death,” Museveni said. “We fought for freedom, and we must ensure that it translates into peace, prosperity, and democracy for all Africans. In Libya, why haven’t elections been held for over a decade? How can anyone prevent an entire country from exercising its democratic right?”
Museveni called on warring factions in Sudan to prioritize peace and allow citizens to decide their governance through elections.
“Let the people decide their future. What is more important than the lives of our people?” he emphasized.
Algeria’s interest in Ugandan coffee
Algeria’s minister Cherfa highlighted his country’s growing interest in Ugandan coffee.
“We have started importing coffee from Uganda. The last contract, signed at the end of 2024, secured 800 tonnes, with the first shipment expected in February 2025. Moving forward, we are ready to import 20,000 tonnes annually,” Cherfa revealed.
However, Cherfa expressed concern over obstacles in sourcing milk from Uganda. He noted that despite Algeria’s submission of tenders and competitive pricing, no Ugandan companies responded.
“Despite submitting tenders and offering competitive pricing, no Ugandan companies responded. Challenges such as language barriers and limited engagement seem to have delayed progress,” he explained.
He said the Algerian government remains committed to resolving these issues.
“We will consult again and notify Ugandan companies to ensure they understand the process, as instructed by President Tebboune,” Cherfa added. For his part, President Museveni assured Cherfa that he would address the milk trade concern with Ugandan companies to ensure progress.
“I will follow up with the Ugandan milk companies to understand why they did not respond,” Museveni said. Museveni also reaffirmed his commitment to both strengthening Uganda-Algeria trade and advocating for peace and stability in Africa.
Of course African leaders should be blamed since they never even tried to take a single military battalion to help Muammar Gaddafi of 42 years rule and John Garang of 22 years rule in their efforts to unite the African continent. Most current African leaders are only good at speaking hot air on the international scene instead of standing firm for human rights and socio-economic emancipation for the suffering African people!