AFRICAN UNION A/n jUhi UNIAO AFRICANA
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box: 3243 Tel.: (251-11) 5517700 Fax: (251-11) 5519 321
Email: situationroom@africa-union.org
PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 719THMEETING
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 14 SEPTEMBER 2017
PSC/PR/BR. (DCCXIX)
PRESS STATEMENT
PRESS STATEMENT
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 719thmeeting held on 14 September 2017, received a briefing on the situation in Libya and the outcomes of the 4th Meeting of the AU High Level Committee on Libya, held on 9 September 2017, in Brazzaville, Congo.
Council took note of the briefing by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, made on his behalf by the Acting Director for Peace and Security, Dr. Admore Kambudzi, on the evolution of the situation in Libya in general and, in particular, on the outcome of the 4th Meeting of the AU High Level Committee on Libya, held on 9 September 2017, in Brazzaville, Congo.
Council recalled its Press Statement [PSC/PR/BR. (DCCIII)] adopted at its 703rd meeting held on 20 July 2017 and Communique [PSC/PR/COMM. (CDXLII) adopted at its 642nd meeting held on 6 December 2016, as well as Communique [PSC/PR/COMM. (DCIV) 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 to 4 July 2017, urging the Libyan parties to overcome their political differences.
Council expressed its serious concern at the prevailing humanitarian and security situation in Libya, with acts of violence affecting the wellbeing of all peace loving Libyans in the country. In this connection, Council strongly condemned all kinds of violence perpetrated against civilians and called upon all concerned to refrain from such acts and pursue their efforts in the path of political dialogue. In this regard, Council, once again, reiterated that there can never be any military solution to the conflict in Libya.
Council welcomed the successful convening and forward looking outcomes of the 4th Meeting of the AU High Level Committee on Libya, held in Brazzaville, on 9 September 2017.
Council took note of the Roadmap outlined by the Brazzaville Meeting and requested the AU Commission to start working towards its full implementation on the basis of the time-line contained therein.
Council commended the three Libyan political leaders, namely Faiez al-Serraj, Chairman of the Presidency Council; Agila Saleh, President of the House of Representatives, and Abderrahman Swelhi, President of the High State Council for attending the Brazzaville summit, as well as for their contributions to the deliberations of the meeting. Council also commended members of the Dialogue Committee representing the House of Representatives and the High State Council, who participated in the Brazzaville Meeting, and expressed its satisfaction of their expressed commitment to start the work of amending the Libya Political Agreement (LPA).
Council welcomed the launch of the inter-Libyan dialogue on the occasion of the Brazzaville Meeting of the AU High Level Committee. In this respect, Council further commends the decision to consensually amend the LPA and the steps taken in this regard by the Dialogue Committee, and in view of the dire humanitarian situation in the country, encouraged the members to expedite the process of amending the Agreement and its implementation, including the convening of the Libya national reconciliation conference. To this end, Council called upon all international stakeholders to provide their support towards this end under the auspices of AU and UN efforts.
Council also commended the Chair of the AU High Level Committee, H.E. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo for his untiring engagement towards resolving the crisis in Libya. Council further commended the AU High Representative for Libya, former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, for his relentless efforts in the search for a lasting solution to the Libyan crisis and encouraged him to persevere.
Council welcomed the creation of the Quartet and called on it to mobilize the necessary international support in line with the joint AU/UN efforts in Libya, including towards the inter-Libyan dialogue aimed at promoting reconciliation in the country. In this context, Council looked forward to the convening of a session of the Quartet in Addis-Ababa in December 2017.
Council underscored the importance of all international stakeholders to coordinate their efforts and to speak with one voice and avoid parallel initiatives that may contradict the UN-AU led efforts in Libya.
Council, bearing in mind that Libya is united by common language, religion, and culture, strongly condemned all external interventions and interference, from whatever quarters, in the internal affairs of Libya, as such interventions undermine the search for a lasting solution to the crisis in the country.
Council agreed to remain seized of the matter.