A striking photograph captures the moment Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi warmly greets Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in Tripoli, Libya, during a diplomatic visit in 1999.

A striking photograph captures the moment Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi warmly greets Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in Tripoli, Libya, during a diplomatic visit in 1999.

A striking photograph captures the moment Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi warmly greets Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in Tripoli, Libya, during a diplomatic visit in 1999. The meeting came at a crucial time, as both leaders were preparing for the extraordinary summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) scheduled to hold in Tripoli in September of that year. The summit was part of broader African efforts to re-evaluate the direction of the OAU at the turn of the millennium—a process that would later contribute to the transformation of the OAU into the African Union (AU) in 2002.

Gaddafi, known for his passionate pan-African vision, was deeply invested in reshaping Africa’s political and economic future. His meeting with President Obasanjo—who had just returned to power as a democratically elected leader in May 1999—symbolized a renewed alignment between North and West Africa at a moment of continental transition. Their discussions centered on unity, regional cooperation, and strengthening Africa’s collective diplomatic voice on the world stage.

Standing behind the two leaders is Abdoulaye Wade, one of the most influential Senegalese political figures of his generation. Wade had been a persistent opposition leader in Senegal, contesting for the presidency four times from 1978 before finally achieving victory in the landmark 2000 election that ended decades of Socialist Party rule. His election ushered in a new era of democratic reform in Senegal. Wade later secured re-election in 2007 with a first-round majority, though his attempt to run for a controversial third term in 2012 was met with widespread protests and ultimately resulted in his defeat.

This moment in Tripoli also echoes an earlier diplomatic chapter: Muammar Gaddafi’s visit to Nigeria in 1997, during the late years of military rule. His arrival drew significant attention across Africa, highlighting his longstanding engagement with West African states and his controversial, yet undeniable, influence on continental politics.

Together, the image captures not just a diplomatic exchange, but a convergence of three major figures in African political history—each representing different regions, ideologies, and eras, yet united by the shared project of shaping Africa’s future at the dawn of the 21st century.