The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 703rd meeting held on 20 July 2017, received a briefing on the situation in Libya:
Council took note of the briefing made by the AU High Representative for Libya, former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, on the situation in Libya and his related activities. Council also took note of the statements made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Congolese abroad of the Republic of Congo, Jean-Claude Ngakosso, in his capacity as Chair of the AU High-Level Committee on Libya, as well as by the representatives of the State of Libya, the League of Arab States (LAS), the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU).
Council recalled the report of the 3rd meeting of the AU High Level Committee on Libya convened at the level of Heads of State and Government, on 2 July 2017, as well as PSC earlier communiqus and press statements on the situation in Libya, including the communiqu adopted at its 604th meeting, held on 9 June 2016. Council further recalled the decision of the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2016, reiterating the commitment of the AU to assist the Libyan parties in finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Libya, as well as the decision of the 29th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Addis Ababa, from 3-4 July 2017, urging the Libyan parties to overcome their political differences.
Council reiterated the AUs concern at the persistent political impasse, as well as at the humanitarian and security situation in Libya, marked by continuing fighting among armed militias, the downfall of state authority and the divisions among Libyas political leaders. In this respect, Council called upon all the Libyan political stakeholders to work together with a view to overcoming the current political impasse and paving the way for durable peace, stability and reconciliation in Libya and the region, as a whole.
Council reaffirmed AUs firm conviction that there is no military solution to the current crisis in Libya, and expressed Africas solidarity with the people of Libya, in this context of political, humanitarian, social, and security challenges.
Council welcomed the efforts made by the Libyan parties to amend, consensually, the Libya Political Agreement (LPA) of 2015, in order to enable its early implementation, in a way that will create conditions conducive to an all-inclusive dialogue for sustainable peace and reconciliation in Libya. In this regard, Council noted the interaction already initiated by the House of Representatives (HoR) and High State Council (HSC) to agree on the scope and modalities of the amendment process, including the selection of their respective representatives in that process, as well as specific clauses of the LPA to be amended. Council encouraged the Libyan parties to urgently take the necessary steps towards the early convening of the Libyan all inclusive dialogue.
Council underlined that the ongoing process between the Libyan parties to amend the LPA is a critical step that may help breaking the current impasse and pave the way to the Libyan all-inclusive dialogue. In this respect, Council noted the offer made by President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, Chair of the AU High Level Committee on Libya, to host, as soon as possible, a preparatory meeting of the Libyan National Reconciliation Conference in Brazzaville.
Council called for enhanced contribution by the AU, through the High Representative and the High Level Committee on Libya, in efforts aimed at finding lasting solution to the crisis in Libya. Council reiterated its conviction that the solution to the crisis in Libya lies primarily in the hands of the Libyans themselves, and underlined that the role of the AU and the larger international community is to provide effective support to their efforts.
Council urged for enhanced unity and coordinated action for Libya among all Members of the International community, in particular the Quartet composed of the AU, the LAS, the EU and the UN, to help the Libyan parties in their efforts aimed at overcoming their differences.
Council commended the AU High Level Committee on Libya, chaired by H.E. Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo and welcomed the visit to Libya by a Ministerial delegation of the Committee, including the Commissioner for Peace and Security, from 31 May to 3 June 2017. Council further commended the AU High Representative for Libya, former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, for his continued engagement and efforts in the search for a lasting solution to the Libyan crisis.
Council commended the tireless efforts of the neighbouring countries of Libya for their continued involvement in the search for peace, security and reconciliation, in particular within the framework of the High Level Committee. Council further welcomed the outcomes of the 10th and 11th ministerial meetings of countries neighbouring Libya held in Cairo, Egypt on 21 January 2017 and Algiers, Algeria, on 8 May 2017, respectively, with the participation of the AU High Representative for Libya.
Council further commended the efforts deployed by the UN, through its previous Special Representative of the Secretary General, Martin Kobler, and welcomed the appointment of Ghassan Salam, as his successor. Council further commended the EU and the LAS, for their contribution to efforts aimed at ending hostilities and bringing lasting peace to Libya.
Council requested the Commission to take the necessary steps towards enhancing the support to the AU High Representative for Libya, as well as the AU Office for Libya, to enable the AU to play a greater role in efforts aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Libya.
Council decided to remain actively seized of the matter.
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Press Statement of the 703th PSC meeting on the situation in Libya - ReliefWeb