LIBYA: African kings, dignitaries meet in Tripoli to celebrate AU 10th anniversary

Record ID: 455030

  • Title: LIBYA: African kings, dignitaries meet in Tripoli to celebrate AU 10th anniversary
  • Date: 10th September 2009
  • Summary: WOMAN SINGING TRIBAL SONG TO GADDAFI AFRICAN LEADERS AND OTHER DELEGATES STANDING WHILE AFRICAN UNION NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PLAYED AT START OF THE MEETING
  • Embargoed: 25th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABQ468AD7P719TFUZIZ91S0SPA
  • Story Text: The first gathering of the kings, sultans, princes, sheikhs and mayors of Africa takes place in the Libyan capital. The meeting coincides with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the African Union.
    Some 700 African tribal leaders gathered on Wednesday (September 9) at the first "Forum of Kings, Sultans, Princes, Sheikhs and Mayors of Africa" in the Libyan capital to mark ten years since the founding of the African Union (AU).
    AU chairperson -- Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi -- presided over the forum.
    African tribal leaders met in Tripoli last year and established the forum -- with the hope of it becoming an annual event -- and proceeded to name 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. 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," said the Sultan of the Sandoh Chiefdom in Sierra Leone Sheku Amadu Sonsiama.
    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 governmental decision-making.
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