Libya uprising

Both Niger and Burkina Faso have been forced to reject rumors in recent days that Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi is on his way to the Sahel region, which splits Saharan Africa from the Sudanian Savannas to the south.

Rumors have been rife that Gadhafi would attempt to flee the popular uprising in Libya which has ended in his ouster from power.

But despite the upswell in opposition to the fallen dictator in his native land, he still has a lot of friends in Africa. He bought them, using his fat checkbook. Gadhafi financed numerous development projects and military hardware for questionable African rulers throughout his own time in power.

This won him not only favor but also influence. A few years ago, a meeting of African kings and traditional rulers even named Gadhafi the "king of kings." Impoverished West African states in particular benefitted from Gadhafi's millions in oil revenues - places like Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.

Bloody allies

So it comes as little surprise that there has been speculation that Gadhafi could seek to go into exile somewhere in the Sahel region which runs through these countries.

Islam expert Bruno Caillies de Salies says Gadhafi's ties with the region may be his saving grace.

"Gadhafi invested a lot in development in the Sahel," he says. "He built roads, hotels, and dams. He planed a Niger canal as far as Timbuktu. Who knows? Maybe he'll now look to take advantage. Of course, this would be risky for the region. His presence would represent a threat to stability."

But Gadhafi didn't just provide funding. He also paid for the training of African rebel leaders at his Revolutionary World Center near Benghazi. It was there that people like Idriss Deby and Charles Taylor learned how to use a Kalashnikov.

Deby now rules Chad with an iron fist, while Taylor, a former Liberian president, is facing charges related to Sierra Leone's bloody civil war at a United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

What is now known is that it was Gadhafi who provided the Liberian rebels, who were controlled by Taylor, with funding and weapons.

Gadhafi's closest friend is Burkina Faso's strongman, Blaise Compaore, who was also trained in Libya. Without Gadhafi's help, Compaore couldn't have seized power in a 1987 coup - and this might be a good time for him to express his gratitude. While Burkina Faso has recognized Libya's National Transitional Council, it also appears to be prepared to offer asylum to its old friend Gadhafi.

Persisting threat

Then there are the Tuareg, a nomadic people in the north of the Sahel. In Niger in particular Gadhafi long supported them in the form of weapons, munitions and logistics in their battle for independence. Many Tuareg fighters recently fought on Gadhfi's side in the Libyan conflict.

Philippe Hugon, research director at the Paris-based think tank IRIS, believes that that the former Libyan leader could seek to remobilize these fighters.

"Many of the freedom fighter movements of the Tuareg have become criminal gangs, but Gadhafi could call on their support, even if his ties to them are no longer what they once were."

The battle for power in Libya has now cast a shadow on the Sahel region. Many are fearful of Gadhafi's African mercenaries and the many weapons that are present in the region.

Despite this fact, many Sahel states seem to be finding it difficult to let go of Gadhafi. Both Niger and Burkina Fasso have recognized the International Criminal Court, which has issued a warrant for his arrest. But both countries also belong to the African Union, which wouldn't even exist, if it hadn't been for Gadhafi's funds. So it's hardly surprising that the AU has called on its members to ignore the international arrest warrant and refrain from extraditing Gadhafi.

As the old saying goes: Never bite the hand that feeds you.

Author: Chuck Penfold
Editor: Rob Mudge