Gaddafi calls African migrants ‘starving and ignorant’

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has described African migrants trying to sneak into Europe as ‘starving and ignorant.’ Gaddafi made the remarks as he asked the European Union (EU) to pay Libya at least US$6,3 billion a year to stop illegal African immigration.

The Libyan dictator went on to say the measures were necessary to avoid a ‘black Europe’. Speaking on a visit to Italy, Col Gaddafi said Europe “could turn into Africa” as “there are millions of Africans who want to come in. We don’t know… what will be the reaction of the white and Christian Europeans faced with this influx of starving and ignorant Africans,” he said.

“Tomorrow Europe might no longer be European, and even black, as there are millions who want to come in. We don’t know if Europe will remain an advanced and united continent or if it will be destroyed, as happened with the barbarian invasions, ” Gaddafi said. He was speaking at a ceremony in Rome late on Monday, standing next to Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Ironically Col Gaddafi has long seen himself as a champion of African interests on the international stage and has hosted many summits with African leaders. He for example has a close relationship with Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe who calls him his ‘brother.’ It seems the brother has other ideas about ‘Africans’.