Libya Crisis Splits AU

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics Saturday, August 27th, 2011

The African Union has refused to explicitly recognised Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC), in a setback for Libyan rebels who have already been recognised as the legitimate government by more than 40 countries.

Instead, the AU on Friday called for an inclusive transitional government in the North African state that would also involve officials from Muammar Gaddafi’s side.

“(The) council calls for the formation of an inclusive transitional government, the establishment of a constitutional and legislative framework for the democratic transformation of Libya as well as for support towards the organisation of elections and a national reconciliation process,” Ramtane Lamamra, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, said following a meeting of the body’s Emergency Peace and Security Council in Addis- Ababa, Ethiopia.

“(The council) strongly reaffirms that the AU stands with the people of Libya and encourages all the parties in Libya to come together and negotiate a peaceful process that would lead to democracy,” he said.

Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s leader, said the AU would not recognise the NTC as the legitimate government as long as fighting continued in Libya.

“If there is fighting, there is fighting. So we can’t stand here and say this is the legitimate (government) now. The process is fluid. That’s part of what we inform countries – whether there is an authority to recognise,” Zuma said.

Officials at the talks said the 15-member emergency council was split almost in half between countries that have recognised the NTC and countries who have not.

“The AU peace and security council is weighted with countries who have backed Gaddafi in the past or owe him favours. They will not recognise the NTC,” one senior Western diplomat with knowledge of negotiations, said.

The NTC declared itself the sole legimitate representative of Libyan people after ousting Gaddafi as Libya’s legitimate government and is currently seeking billions of dollars of seized Libyan assets to be unfrozen to help in rebuilding Libya following six months of war.

-Tribunewp_posts