ADEKEYE ADEBAJO: Mbeki — from ousted president to peacemaker
AS FORMER South African president Thabo Mbeki continues his troubleshooting role in Sudan, it is worth examining his post-presidency activities since his dramatic "recall" from office in September 2008.Mbeki has transformed himself from a philosopher-king to a peacemaker and public intellectual.At first, he concentrated only on issues of foreign policy, assiduously avoiding domestic politics so as not to get in the way of his successor, Jacob Zuma. He has subsequently bemoaned "a dangerous and unacceptable situation of directionless and unguided national drift".Mbeki has visited universities, high schools, business forums and women’s groups at home and abroad. He has also talked to African leaders on ways to develop the continent. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Addis Ababa University in 2010 for his peacemaking efforts in Africa, and received the Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize in Nigeria in 2015.Mbeki has focused on issues such as the scourge of corruption and dictatorshi...
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