For Jean Ping, the Mediterranean Union project of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, that was approved in the beginning of July, aims at dividing the African continent and contradicts the decision made at the last African Union Summit to see Africa as one integrated, geographical and political unit says the International Magazine.
Jean Ping, who is known for his discretion, for once broke with its reputation by saying in his meeting with Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli that the project for the Mediterranean Union proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy was associated with the objectives of colonialism aiming at sharing Africa, according to an official Libyan source. For him the Mediterranean Union will divide the African continent.
Thus, Jean Ping supported Muammar Gaddafi stance towards the newly established Union and underlined the dangers that this project represents for the African continent and specifically for the African Union.
Jean Ping is not the first African who has officially criticized the Mediterranean Union project. Also Senegalese President has emphasized that sub-Saharan Africa, “black Africa, to call it by its name”, was witnessing a “two-speed cooperation” by Europe which favoured the Arab north of the world’s poorest continent. “If we were all on the ground floor anyway, North Africa has just been moved up a floor,” he added.
