January 26, 2007
Getting ready for Gaddafi
Everyone is coming to Addis over this weekend - Colonel Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, Romano Prodi, Javier Solana, you name it - for the 8th African Union Summit.
You can tell important people are coming to town because the internet connection keeps crashing, the main streets from the airport are fluttering with obscure flags and the Federal Police's boys in blue are out in force.
They are carrying all the usual batons and guns. But this time, each of them is also equipped with a coil of fluorescent orange or blue nylon rope. I'm still building up the courage to ask one of them what it's for.
Now, all I need is for the Ministry of Info gets me a security pass for the airport, so I can start taking pictures of all these people getting off their shiny jets. I also need to find out how Reuters spells Gaddafi. According to Wikipedia as many as 37 different versions have been listed.
Posted by aheavens at January 26, 2007 11:53 AM
Comments
I remember Gaddafi's first arrival to Ethiopia in the early 80's. No sooner had his motorcade passed us on Bole Road, the talk was all about his three machine gun toting young female bodyguards waving to us with much enthusiasm. Little did we know, his future appearances would be grand productions.
Posted by: weblogethiopia at January 27, 2007 9:25 PM
I also remember that earlier Gaddafi visit to Addis rather well! (21 years ago?)
My own first-ever arrival into Bole was somewhat delayed by Gaddafi's arrival on that day.
His bodyguards stayed in the Ghion - where I was also staying. I almost tripped over one of their weapons - it was leaning against a table leg - when I went into breakfast the following morning.
Posted by: Ray at January 28, 2007 3:29 PM
Why do you call Africans Boys???? Is that not a racist comment.
Posted by: temesghen at January 29, 2007 4:13 PM
No Temesghen it's not. 'Boys in blue' is a generic term for policemen. You want proof - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boys-Blue-Tommy-Cannon/dp/B0002YCYTE
Posted by: Andrew at January 31, 2007 2:11 PM
Thank you Andrew,
In the context of the English Police maybe that is appropriate. However I am not sure if you used that term in its proper context. Therefore you left a lot of room for interpretation.
You know how the term "Boy" has been used towards Blacks.
Posted by: Temesghen at January 31, 2007 2:42 PM
Has anyone ever meet with Colonel Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, And if yes, Do you know him very well. If yes pleas contacte me, A.S.A.P
Thanks
Posted by: Mohamed at June 30, 2007 3:27 AM