Recognition of Libya's Revolutionary National Transitional Council - Diplomatic Policy Variations of Nigeria and South Africa

Abstract

Variations in diplomatic policy approaches of Nigeria and South Africa in recognizing the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) as Africa’s major geo-strategic powers emerged to be an interesting political dynamic in the study of contemporary African diplomacy. With the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1973) imposing a no-fly zone to protect civilians, Nigeria and twenty-two (22) African countries supported the international multilateral efforts to recognize the NTC, whilst South Africa and thirty (30) African nations acted unilaterally in failing to support United Nations Multilateral efforts. These foreign policy variations provide several interesting paradigms in the study of transformations taking shape across Africa. On one hand it has strengthened debates around “sovereignty as responsibility,” and changing notions of threats from the frontiers of a nation to one within a nation or one driven by freedom from pervasive threats to people's rights, safety or lives,” from the other. On another hand it shows the changing dimensions of leadership and a growing consensus on defining policy to meet global norms and challenges of the century. Similarly, the unilateral and multilateral approach seen across the African continent in recognizing the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) shows the balance of power dynamics between two African power houses – Nigeria and South Africa. Such divisions across Africa with Nigeria and twenty-two (22) countries recognizing Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate governing body, and South Africa with thirty (30) nations not recognizing the NTC brings to light the struggle for prominence between two powers on the African political stage. The paper provides theoretical, empirical and complimentary evidence around Nigerian multilateral action and South Africa’s unilateral action in recognizing the Libyan National Transition Council during the revolution that ended the regime of former Libyan leader Muhammad Gaddafi.