Libya concerned about AU sanctions for its delayed contribution
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala has expressed concern over the African Union (AU) memorandum suggesting the application of sanctions against his country, in accordance with the organisation's provisions, in case Libya did not pay its arrears to this year's budget by the end of September 2020.
During a closed-door meeting of the AU Executive Council, Siala asserted that his ministry had not received the report of the Ministerial Commission responsible for determining the shares and contributions that were set for payment.
The Foreign ministry said on its Facebook page that the minister noted the short delay between the date on which his ministry was informed and the date of payment, affirming that the contributions would be paid soon after administrative measures are completed.
The minister asked for "decrease in the contributions of member countries for the AU budget of 2021, which must take into account exceptional economic situation of countries due to the health crisis caused by the coronavirus, which weighed on state budgets."
He suggested that the reductions could be after the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
Mr. Siala also underlined the need to distribute functions between the AU member countries, affirming that "Libya works to make high competence the criterion of choice of the incumbents of the posts in the Union and that the output of officials be published on the official website of the AU Commission in accordance with the principle of transparency in recruitment.
The AU's annual budget is estimated at $129 million, of which $58 million is provided by contributions from member countries and the remainder paid by the organisation's partners.
Libya is among the AU's top five contributors alongside Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Algeria.
Libya is also the seventh largest contributor to the African Development Bank with a share of $300 million.
-0- PANA AD/IN/JSG/KND/AR 14Oct2020
