1 February 2023 | The AUPSC convened its 1136th session to discuss the situation in Libya. The session which was chaired by the Permanent Representative of South Africa, AUPSC Chair of the month of February, Ambassador Edward Xolisa Makaya, and received statements from the AU PAPS Commissioner, Bankole Adeoye, represented by Ambassador Wahida Ayari; the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AUC to Libya; the Representative of the State of Libya; and a Representative of the AU High-Level Committee (HCL) on Libya. The session also received statements from the Representatives of the Libya Contact Group as well as neighboring countries, namely: Egypt, Algeria, Chad, Congo, South Africa, Tunisia, and Niger. The Representative of the North Africa Regional Capability (NARC) and the SRSG to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Professor Abdullahi Bathily, also delivered statements.

Ambassador Makaya in his opening remarks underscored the persistence of the Libya crisis, noting the rivalry between the Government of National Unity and the Eastern House of Representatives, the executive power divide between Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and Fathi Bashaga, the stalling of the process to reach consensus on a constitutional framework for elections and the continued attacks on Tripoli by elements of the Libya national army. He elaborated on the linkages between the prolonged conflict in Libya and the growing insecurity amidst arms proliferation in the wider Sahel region. In this regard, he called on the PSC to meet regularly to take stock of progress of the political process. Further, he called on the Council members to proffer actionable recommendations aimed to resolve the Libya conflict without further delays.

The statement of AU PAPS Commissioner Bankole Adeoye stressed that Libya was in a critical state, alluding to the recent threats to undermine the ceasefire agreement through a series of attacks on Tripoli. He reiterated the imperative for the withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya and underscored the importance of inclusivity, as well as of Libya’s ownership of its peace process. He informed that the HLC will convene a side event on the Libya process during the upcoming AU summit to revive international support towards Libya’s reconciliation process and efforts towards elections.

In a communique issued following the meeting, the AUPSC, among others, commended the Libyan Authorities for the positive political developments being witnessed in the country; welcomed the appointment of Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Libya and Head of the UNSML; commended the sustained efforts of the AU High-Level Committee for Libya led by H.E. President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo and the support of Libya’s neighboring countries for the Libyan-owned political process. The AUPSC expressed deep concern over the continued violations of the UN arms embargo and the delays in the withdrawal of foreign fighters and foreign forces, including mercenaries threatening to reverse the gains achieved. It reiterated the call for the international community to fully adhere with the Ceasefire Agreement, and strongly condemned and rejected the continuous external interferences in the domestic affairs of Libya. It stressed the importance of enhanced coordination and complementarity of efforts among the AU, the UN, the EU, the League of Arab States (LAS), as well as the rest of the international community and participants of the Berlin Process. Furthermore, it decided to undertake a PSC field mission to Libya to express AU solidarity with the Libyan people and to engage all key stakeholders on the ground; and agreed to dedicate a PSC meeting on Libya at the level of AU Heads of State and Government in the margins of the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in February 2023. Read the full communique here.