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his enemies in Haiti as potentially incendiary. 646 Immediately after being deposed inHaiti, Aristide was relocated to the Central African Republic (CAR). He wassubsequently exiled, upon his own request, to Jamaica. From Jamaica, he receivedan <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>of</strong> asylum from the South African government, acting on the request <strong>of</strong>CARICOM.The asylum <strong>of</strong> Aristide <strong>and</strong> his family in South Africa was seen as one consequence<strong>of</strong> President Mbeki’s commitment to the idea <strong>of</strong> an African diaspora, 647important new component in African continental initiatives, one on which manyresources are expended, <strong>and</strong> where the Caribbean is a particular focus. Just prior tothe onset <strong>of</strong> the crisis, Mbeki extended an invitation to AU leaders to join Haiti’sbicentenary celebrations in January 2004. The Caribbean was seen as an importantarena <strong>of</strong> extending the links between the African continent <strong>and</strong> Africans abroad.Indeed, it was the region <strong>of</strong> the world on which the AU’s focus first turned for itsobjective <strong>of</strong> strengthening relations <strong>and</strong> solidarity with the people <strong>of</strong> the AfricanDiaspora. As Mbeki stated,The celebration <strong>of</strong> the bicentenary <strong>of</strong> the Haitian Revolution <strong>and</strong> the Decade <strong>of</strong>Liberation in South Africa during the same year, 2004, must serve to inspire allAfricans to act together <strong>and</strong> decisively to end their poverty, underdevelopment,dehumanisation <strong>and</strong> marginalisation. 648anYet, South Africa resisted the temptation to become more actively involved in theHaiti crisis.646 A US government cable <strong>of</strong> 22 November 2004 later leaked by Wikileaks revealed thatBrazil, in the guise <strong>of</strong> Marco Aurélio Garcia also felt that “Aristide must not be allowedback into Haitian politics under any circumstances”. See Folha.com, 2011. “MarcoAurélio Garcia não quer Aristide volte á política haitiana”, 14 January, 2011. Accessedonline at: http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/859680-marco-aurelio-garcia-nao-querque-aristide-volte-a-politica-haitiana-leia-em-ingles.shtmlon 6 June, 2011.647 This view is shared by L<strong>and</strong>sberg. See Chris L<strong>and</strong>sberg, The Quiet Diplomacy <strong>of</strong>Liberation: International Politics <strong>and</strong> South Africa’s Transition. (Cape Town: JacanaPress, 2004): 178.648 Cited in L<strong>and</strong>sberg, The Quiet Diplomacy <strong>of</strong> Liberation, 179.253

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