Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, has expressed grave concerns over the long-standing Libyan crisis, highlighting its extensive costs to the Libyan people and its role in fueling terrorism in the Sahel region.
Faki’s remarks came during a high-level meeting of the African Union Committee on Libya held in Brazzaville, Congo, on Monday.
According to the African Union, the multifaceted Libyan crisis encompasses military, security, political, institutional, economic, and financial dimensions.
Faki emphasised the importance of the upcoming reconciliation conference, noting its success hinges on the willingness of the Libyan people, as reported by Agence France-Presse.
This meeting, the ninth since the establishment of the African Union Committee, sets the stage for the National Reconciliation Conference scheduled for April 28 in Sirte, Libya.
In a related development, the Algerian President has called for the withdrawal of all mercenaries from Libya, regardless of their designations.
Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who also presides over the meeting, underscored the preference for an inclusive Libyan dialogue as a precursor to the electoral process.
“The solution to this crisis has always favored a Libyan dialogue encompassing all parties as a path to reconciliation, preceding the election process,” he stated.
He further commented, “There can be no stronger initiative than that emerging from the hearts and minds of the Libyan brethren. The era of war has passed,” describing the Libyan war as a “tragedy.”
The meeting also included the participation of prominent figures such as Sassou Nguesso, Faki Mohamed, Comoros President Ghazali Othmani, the United Nations Special Representative for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, and the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Mnifi.
The high-level African Union Committee on Libya, chaired by Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, comprises representatives from ten countries: Algeria, Congo, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Niger, Mauritania, Tunisia, Sudan, and Uganda.
