African press review 16 September 2011

Friday’s African newspapers are dominated by the visit to Libya of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Kenya’s Daily Nation reports that the two men whose forces spear-headed the Nato air raids that helped topple Kadhafi, are immensely popular among ordinary Libyans for their role in ending the fugitive strongman’s 42 years of iron-fisted rule. The newspaper also underlines that Sarkozy and Cameron who became the first foreign leaders to visit the new Libya also pledged to help hunt down the country's former leader.

In Nigeria, lawmakers have summoned the foreign minister to brief members about measures taken to protect Nigerians and other black Africans in Libya.

Vanguard reports that the move follows reports that thousands of black people are being subjected to attacks and torture in Libya following the overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi. One lawmaker quoted by the Vanguard says hundreds of Nigerians are being hauled into detention centers in the emerging xenophobia against black Africans branded as mercenaries employed by the Kadhafi regime.

Uganda’s Daily Monitor says President Yuweri Museveni and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma have already dumped the ousted Kadhafi. The comment in the Kampala-based newspaper comes after the five African presidents sitting on the African Union ad hoc committee on Libya resolved in Pretoria on Wednesday to recognize the Libyan National Transitional Council if it formed an all-inclusive government.

The Daily Monitor explains that the group known to be Kadhafi pals stoutly stood by him throughout the seven months of armed conflict in his country. According to the newspaper, they are now urging the AU to help the NTC form a unity government.

The Sarkozy/Cameron visit to Libya also drew comments from the major Egyptian dailies. The Cairo-based Daily News reports that the victory of the Libyan revolution and the escalation of revolutionary attempts to oust Bashar Assad in Syria signal that the wind is still blowing in the sails of the Arab Spring.

Al Ahram argues that while the two western leaders deserve praise for bringing down the Kadhafi dictatorship, the growing sway of Islamists in Libya’s new power structure raises questions about the future of the country.

The Egyptian papers are weary about the prospects of their own democratic uprising.

Daily News Egypt says transformation is not easy and the spring is full of sandstorms.

According to the paper, the revolution has passed the point of overthrowing the military regime and the post-revolution transition period reflects the enormity of the difficulties
Friday’s Egyptian newspapers also examine calls by opposition groups call for silent protest marches this Friday to say No to the reactivation of emergency laws.

Al Ahram reports that several political forces including the El-Ghad political party, the Revolutionary Forces Alliance and the Revolution Youth Union have announced plans to take part in the silent protests around the country.

It says that the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces reactivated the Mubarak-era laws on Sunday amid worsening clashes outside the Israeli and Saudi embassies in Cairo.

The online newspapers in Cairo worry that tensions between Egypt and Israel are steadily mounting amid continuing attacks in the Sinai Peninsula. World news.com quotes military sources saying that Egypt and Israel were sending forces toward their joint land and sea border amid the threat of an attack from Sinai.

The Egyptian army told the website that intensified Israeli naval and army operations have raised the prospect that forces would enter Egyptian territory and spark another crisis with Cairo. Al Masry al Youm quotes Egypt’s Prime Minister Essam Sharaf saying that “peace with Israel is no longer sacred”.