African countries warned of attempts to scuttle their contribution to settlement of Libyan crisis
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan prime minister, Fayez Al-Sarraj, on Tuesday expressed his desire to see the African Union play a central role in finding a solution to the Libyan crisis.
He also warned that their efforts will be met with negative interventions from some countries, including unfortunately African countries.
Mr. Al-Sarraj, who is President of the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) did not mention these countries, but Egypt, along with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, are among the active supporters of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who controls the eastern part of Libya with his Libyan National Army (LNA).
This was conspicuous when the Egyptian head of state, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, then head of the African Union, refused to take any initiative on the Libyan issue.
Mr. Al-Sarraj was speaking at a meeting with the ambassadors of the African Group on the sidelines of the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
He asked them to help convey this message of the Libyan people to all those who intervene: "Hands off Libya! Enough of th bloodshed, attempts to bring back time are futile and the people will not back down for the realisation of a democratic civil state, and the will of the people is indomitable."
He underlined Libya's pride in its African membership and its willingness to develop political, economic and security relations with African countries to meet the challenges facing the continent with a common effort.
Mr. al-Sarraj also stressed that foreign interventions have contributed to obstructing the political process and brought the country to the current state of war. "Those who support the aggression (Haftar's attack on Tripoli) should assume the moral and legal responsibility for the violations and crimes committed against Libyans."
Referring to his current visit to Geneva, Mr. al-Sarraj said that it confirms Libya's deep recognition of the UN Human Rights Council and its noble message, which is one of the pillars of the desired civil state in Libya.
He recalled that Libya was elected a member of the Human Rights Council for the African continent for 2020 to 2022, underscoring his country's willingness to contribute effectively to the strengthening of the Council's effectiveness, in cooperation and coordination with the African Group, and in accordance with the mechanisms followed within the Council.
Addressing the phenomenon of illegal migration, which is closely linked to human rights, he stressed the importance of addressing its causes in countries of origin. They should implement development programmes and create employment opportunities for young people so that they do not have to leave their country and put their lives at risk.
Mr. al-Sarraj said that "Libya is a transit country that is going through exceptional circumstances and is doing what it can to address the humanitarian aspect of this phenomenon".
"The establishment of stability in Libya will contribute to solve the problem, that a stable Libya will be able to secure its borders and also provide employment opportunities to hundreds of thousands of African workers, in accordance with Libyan law, such as was the case in the past."
He also announced Libya's support for the African Union's initiative to silence guns in 2020 and that it will work to make the plan a success for security and peace on the continent, and to end wars and civil conflicts.
The theme of the 33rd African Union (AU) Summit held on 9 and 10 February in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was "Silencing Arms: Creating conditions conducive to Africa's development."
He briefed the delegates on the situation in Libya and the aggression that the capital Tripoli has been experiencing for the past 10 months, aimed to take power and restore a totalitarian regime against which Libyans have rebelled with hundreds of martyrs.
He recounted the efforts of the GNA over the years to defuse the Libyan crisis, and the concessions it had made in the interest of the homeland, all of which were met with intransigence by Haftar who insists on completing his project to rule exclusively with support from external parties and agendas.
In their contributions, many ambassadors expressed their support for the GNA and its efforts to ensure security and peace in Libya.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 26Feb2020
