LIBYA: African kings and dignitaries meet in Tripoli to celebrate African Union's tenth anniversary

Record ID: 452392

  • Title: LIBYA: African kings and dignitaries meet in Tripoli to celebrate African Union's tenth anniversary
  • Date: 11th September 2009
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 9, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF "FORUM OF KINGS, SULTANS, PRINCES, SHEIKHS AND MAYORS OF AFRICA" LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADDAFI GREETING CHEERING CROWD WOMAN SINGING TRIBAL SONG TO GADDAFI AFRICAN LEADERS AND OTHER DELEGATES STANDING WHILE THE AFRICAN UNION NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PLAYED AT THE START OF THE MEETING VARIOUS OF DELEGATES ATTENDING MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SULTAN OF SANDOH CHIEFDOM IN SIERRA LEONE SHEKU AMADU SONSIAMA SAYING: "There have been a lot of missing links because we have not been meeting, so by converging here on Tripoli, it's actually going back to see how best we can start. I see it like a process, we are starting now after a long. Because as far as I am concerned this is the first meeting I'm attending outside my own country of Sierra Leone of traditional leaders or kings of Africa." PARTICIPANTS SEATED AT MEETING GADDAFI SEATED ON PODIUM LISTENING VARIOUS OF AFRICAN LEADERS ATTENDING MEETING SIGN READING IN ENGLISH AND ARABIC "FORUM OF KINGS, SULTANS, PRINCES, SHEIKHS AND MAYORS OF AFRICA"
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVA4D5CXT3CFDD612OVXJ6DP28QT
  • Story Text: Some 700 African tribal leaders gathered at the first "Forum of Kings, Sultans, Princes, Sheikhs and Mayors of Africa," held in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Wednesday (September 9) to mark tens years since founding the African Union.
    The current African Union chairperson, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, presided over the forum. African tribal leaders met in Tripoli last year and established the forum, meant to become an annual event, and named Gaddafi the "King of Kings."
    Organisers hope the forum will provide an opportunity for African leaders to meet and discuss social and political issues affecting the continent.
    "There have been a lot of missing links because we have not been meeting, so by converging here on Tripoli, it's actually going back to see how best we can start," said the Sultan of the Sandoh Chiefdom in Sierra Leone Sheku Amadu Sonsiama.
    "I see it like a process, we are starting now after a long. Because as far as I am concerned this is the first meeting I'm attending outside my own country of Sierra Leone of traditional leaders or kings of Africa," he said.
    African kings, sultans and princes do no wield any official power in their countries, but enjoy substantial popular support and are sometimes able to influence governments decision making.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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