Leaked US diplomatic memos sent to Washington say Kenyan politicians have a weak backbone, always bending to international pressure.
The memos which reflect diplomats’ candid views on their host nations, shows America’s hand in key decisions made by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Cables on other African countries had a lot to say about the leaders and their leadership. We sample some of them:
President Yoweri Museveni: Uganda
The US diplomat in Uganda describes President Museveni as autocratic and warns of violence if the February 2011 presidential elections will not be free and fair.
A diplomatic cable accuses Mr Museveni of protecting corrupt ministers but commends him for his support of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
“But the President’s autocratic tendencies, as well as Uganda’s pervasive corruption, sharpening ethnic divisions, and explosive population growth are eroding Uganda’s status as an African success story,” says the brief by ambassador Jerry Lanier.
The cable also depicts a president living in constant fear of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. At one time, Mr Museveni requested US protection for fear that the Libyan leader would shoot down his plane. The two leaders have disagreed over the political and economic future of Africa.
While President Gaddafi has been at the forefront campaigning for a United States of Africa, his Ugandan counterpart thinks otherwise, the cables say. President Museveni said he and former South African leader Thabo Mbeki, whom he blames for not offering an alternative to Libya’s approach, were then working together to counter the union proposal.
A cable written on June 18, 2008 discloses it was after a meeting five days earlier between President Museveni and former US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer that the Ugandan leader expressed growing tensions with the Arab state and fears for his life.
Arising out of their conflicting standpoints on the political unity of Africa, President Museveni feared an attack on his aircraft on President Gaddafi’s instructions. “(President) Museveni noted that tensions with Gaddafi are growing as a result, and he worries that Gaddafi will attack his plane while flying over international airspace.
“Museveni requested that the US and Uganda governments co-ordinate to provide additional air radar information when he flies over international airspace,” the June 18 cable states.
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President Jacob Zuma: South Africa
The US considers South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, a smart politician who has weathered many storms.
A cable by a US ambassador in South Africa, says Mr Mr Zuma used several tactics of political survival that give clues to his personality and leadership style. According to the diplomat, Mr Zuma is a highly persuasive, clever strategist, grassroots mobiliser who knows when to play victim for political gain.
A US diplomatic memo says that Mr Zuma’s rise to the pinnacle of South African politics at the same time that serious questions about his character were headline news “is an astonishing political achievement in itself.”
The diplomat observed that despite former President Thabo Mbeki’s intellect and experience as well as his apparent success as a leader, politician, and diplomat, Mr Zuma out-maneuvered him by manipulating the party base and portraying himself as the victim using the ANC image-making machinery.
“Pundits thought Mbeki was the smartest and most effective political leader of his generation, but on December 17, 2007 the ANC declared Mr Zuma the clear favourite, beginning Mr Mbeki’s surprising slide into political obscurity.”
And the US is optimistic about Mr Zuma’s success as President. “With a relatively weak opposition but respected courts and activist civil society, there is optimism that a Zuma administration will, at worst, muddle through,” says the cable.
His supporters’ adoration only grew as his detractors characterised him as an unlettered and corrupt buffoon surrounded by crass and intimidating socialist.
Throughout the political crisis he faced after President Mbeki fired him as VP, Mr Zuma focused on his oft-repeated assertion that he was innocent and that he was the victim of a systematic abuse of power.
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Hosni Mubarak: Egypt
US diplomatic memos on Egypt describe President Mubarak as an “indispensable ally” in the Arab World and supporter of a united Sudan. It says that at 81 years, Mr Mubarak is old but in reasonably good health.
However, the most notable problem is a “hearing deficit in his left ear.” According to the cable, the Egyptian leader responds well to respect for position, but is not swayed by personal flattery. “Mr Mubarak peppers his observations with anecdotes that demonstrate both his long experience and his sense of humour.”
However, the death of his grandson Mohammad affected him deeply and dampened his spirits. The brief says that if Mubarak is still alive it is likely he will run next year’s general elections again, and, inevitably, win.
“Despite incessant whispered discussions, no one in Egypt has any certainty about who will eventually succeed Mr Mubarak nor under what circumstances. He seems to be trusting God and the ubiquitous military and civilian security services to ensure an orderly transition.”
The Egyptian leader is also a firm supporter of unity of the Sudan which is scheduled to hold a referendum next month, says the cable. “Egypt views the stability and unity of Sudan as essential to its national security because of concern over its access to Nile waters and the potential for increased Sudanese refugee flow.”
The memo says that Egypt has been using development assistance in South Sudan to encourage unity. “But the Egyptians are jealous and sensitive to the Qatari foray into resolving Darfur, a crisis squarely in Egypt’s backyard.”
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President Robert Mugabe: Zimbabwe
To the US, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is physically frail but intellectually alert.
A US diplomatic cable describes Mr Mugabe as a ruthless dictator but brilliant tactician with a lopsided sense of economics despite his many degrees.
“He is fixated on land reform and sanctions, and is almost trance-like (monologue, soft voice) in discussing these subjects,” wrote a US diplomat after meeting him at his Harare office.
“He is generally alert and can keep up with a conversation. But physically, Mr Mugabe is frail,” observes the diplomat.
“He appears uncomfortable when seated -- he slouches and frequently turns his body as if to find a better position, and then sits straight up and speaks in a louder voice for a few seconds before lapsing back into the barely audible soft voice.”
The ambassador relays Mr Mugabe’s consisted calls for the West to keep off Zimbabwe’s affairs. Says Mr Mugabe in a cable:
“The countries of Europe and America want to dictate which way our politics should go and they talk about regime change. They want us to go down on our knees and beg. One day we should think about fighting them in the international courts.”
His supporters’ adoration only grew as his detractors characterised him as an unlettered and corrupt buffoon surrounded by crass and intimidating socialist.
Throughout the political crisis he faced after President Mbeki fired him as VP, Mr Zuma focused on his oft-repeated assertion that he was innocent and that he was the victim of a systematic abuse of power.
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Hosni Mubarak: Egypt
US diplomatic memos on Egypt describe President Mubarak as an “indispensable ally” in the Arab World and supporter of a united Sudan. It says that at 81 years, Mr Mubarak is old but in reasonably good health.
However, the most notable problem is a “hearing deficit in his left ear.” According to the cable, the Egyptian leader responds well to respect for position, but is not swayed by personal flattery. “Mr Mubarak peppers his observations with anecdotes that demonstrate both his long experience and his sense of humour.”
However, the death of his grandson Mohammad affected him deeply and dampened his spirits. The brief says that if Mubarak is still alive it is likely he will run next year’s general elections again, and, inevitably, win.
“Despite incessant whispered discussions, no one in Egypt has any certainty about who will eventually succeed Mr Mubarak nor under what circumstances. He seems to be trusting God and the ubiquitous military and civilian security services to ensure an orderly transition.”
The Egyptian leader is also a firm supporter of unity of the Sudan which is scheduled to hold a referendum next month, says the cable. “Egypt views the stability and unity of Sudan as essential to its national security because of concern over its access to Nile waters and the potential for increased Sudanese refugee flow.”
The memo says that Egypt has been using development assistance in South Sudan to encourage unity. “But the Egyptians are jealous and sensitive to the Qatari foray into resolving Darfur, a crisis squarely in Egypt’s backyard.”
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President Robert Mugabe: Zimbabwe
To the US, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is physically frail but intellectually alert.
A US diplomatic cable describes Mr Mugabe as a ruthless dictator but brilliant tactician with a lopsided sense of economics despite his many degrees.
“He is fixated on land reform and sanctions, and is almost trance-like (monologue, soft voice) in discussing these subjects,” wrote a US diplomat after meeting him at his Harare office.
“He is generally alert and can keep up with a conversation. But physically, Mr Mugabe is frail,” observes the diplomat.
“He appears uncomfortable when seated -- he slouches and frequently turns his body as if to find a better position, and then sits straight up and speaks in a louder voice for a few seconds before lapsing back into the barely audible soft voice.”
The ambassador relays Mr Mugabe’s consisted calls for the West to keep off Zimbabwe’s affairs. Says Mr Mugabe in a cable:
“The countries of Europe and America want to dictate which way our politics should go and they talk about regime change. They want us to go down on our knees and beg. One day we should think about fighting them in the international courts.”
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