Reports Compiled By Leo Odera Omolo {From several African news sources}
The one-day AU high level Ad hock committee on Libya that took place in Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday has committed itself to working with the National Transitional Council (NTC) and other Libyan stakeholders towards the goal of the early establishment of an all-inclusive national unity government in Libya.
The French and British leaders arrived in Libya on Thursday to congratulate the new rulers they helped install, but families fleeing besieged bastions of ousted strongman Muammar Gaddafi are a reminder that peace is still far off.
The visit is a victory lap for Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron, who defied doubters at home to lead a NATO bombing campaign that succeeded in ushering in a victory by forces who swept away Gaddafi’s 42-year rule last month.
The Committee also encouraged the African Union Commission to do the same.
This is contained a 3-page communique that was issued at the end of the AU high level committee meeting on Libya that was held at the Government Guest House in Pretoria.
It was attended by Presidents’ Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Jacob Zuma of South Africa and host of the meeting as well as President Dennis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazaville.
Mauritania, whose President is the Chairman of the Committee was represented by its Ambassador to South Africa and Mali, another member, was also represented by its envoy in Pretoria.
The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the African Union Commission Dr. Jean Ping and the Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra.
In the communiqué that was read by Ambassador Lamamra, the members of the ad hoc committee welcomed the assurances provided by NTC leadership in Libya, including a the letter addressed to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on September 5, 2011 in which the new authorities in Tripoli stressed the strategic commitment to the African continent by NTC, the commitment to give priority to national unity in Libya and to bring together all Libyan stakeholders without any exception as well as to rebuild Libya and the commitment to protect all foreign workers within Libya, including the African migrant workers.
The AU high level committee meeting requested the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to convene an urgent meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the margins of the 66th Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, to review developments in Libya and take appropriate positions to reinforce efforts to bring peace, democracy and development in Libya including ensuring a united African position.
The AU High Level Committee, having reiterated the relevance of many positions of the AU roadmap and of the proposals adopted in Malabo last July, for the long term stability of Libya and the fulfillment of the legitimate aspirations of its people, recommended to the AU Peace and Security Council to encourage the NTC to spare no efforts in ensuring its effective follow-up to living up its pledge to formally institute an all-inclusive transitional government in Libya.
The AU high level committee requested the Chairperson of the AU Commission to submit, as early as possible, a report to the Peace and Security Council covering all relevant developments in order to enable the Commission authorize the all-inclusive transitional government in Libya soon to be formed by the current authorities in Tripoli to occupy the seat of Libya in the AU, as soon as it is established.
The AU high level committee meeting stressed that such a decision should be based on the exceptional circumstances in and the uniqueness of the situation of Libya, and without prejudice to the relevant instruments of the AU, particularly those on unconstitutional changes of Governments.
The ad hoc committee reiterated its readiness to work with the United Nations, the League of the Arab States, and the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, the European Union and NATO to ensure a coordinated support to the Libyan people.
The ad hoc Committee pledged the AU’s readiness to extend full support in this respect and to the overall efforts to stabilize the situation, promote democracy and reconstruction in Libya and to this end encouraged the Chairperson of the AU Commission to expeditiously take all steps required for the AU to play an active role in the ongoing efforts in Libya in line with relevant Peace and Security Council (PSC) decisions.
The ad hoc committee reiterated the AU’s call for an immediate cessation of all hostilities in Libya
Ends