AU Recognizes NTC in Libya

20 SEPTEMBER 2011

Pretoria — The African Union (AU) has officially recognized the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the representative of the Libyan people as they form an all-inclusive transitional government that will occupy the Libyan seat at the AU.

"The AU stands ready to support the Libyan people, on the basis of the AU Roadmap and working together with the international community, as they rebuild their country towards a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Libya," read a statement issued by the office of the Chairperson of the African Union, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who is also the President of Equatorial Guinea.

On Tuesday, Mbasogo received a briefing from the Ad Hoc Committee of the AU Peace and Security Council regarding the developments in Libya, on the eve of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The briefing was based on the outcomes of the meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council held in Addis Ababa on 26 August and the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Libya held on 14 September in Pretoria.

At both meetings, the AU encouraged the Libyan stakeholders to form an all-inclusive transitional government that would work towards the promotion of national unity, reconciliation and democracy and urged the National Transitional Council (NTC) to protect all foreign workers, including African migrant workers.

The leadership of the National Transitional Council, in its letter to the Chairperson of the AU Commission on 5 September, provided assurances stressing their commitment to:

* the African continent;

* give priority to national unity and to bring together all Libyan stakeholders, without any exception, to rebuild the country; and to

* protect all foreign workers within Libya, including the African migrant workers.

These commitments were in line with the provisions of the AU Roadmap.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201109201513.html.