Macky Sall reiterates AU's willingness to work towards Libyans' aspirations to hold elections
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Senegalese president and current chairman of the African Union (AU), Macky Sall, has said that the African Union will be a key supporter of the Libyan people's desire to end the transitional stages and go to elections.
In a speech on Monday morning at the presidential palace in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, at a reception held in honour of the Libyan Prime Minister of the national unity government, Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, at the head of a Libyan delegation, Mr. Sall welcomed the agreement reached by the Libyan government and the African Union.
President Sall welcomed the return of the Executive Secretariat of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) to Tripoli, praising the efforts of the government of national unity to return to Africa and activating a number of political and economic projects that link it to the continent, a statement issued by the Libyan government said.
Prime Minister Al-Dbaiba stressed the continuation of his efforts and communication with all international parties to urge them to support the electoral file, which would not be complete without meeting the chairman of the African Union and coordinating positions with him.
The statement said a meeting was held with the Senegalese ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Planning, Higher Education and Innovation, the political adviser, and the Libyan ministers of Economy, Finance and Higher Education, the Ministers of State for Communication and Political Affairs, and the Prime Minister's Office.
At the meeting also were the Chairman of the Libyan Investment Authority, the Director of the Sahelo-Saharan Bank and the President of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as well as the Chairman of the Public-Private Partnership Governing Board.
During this meeting, the results of the second session of the Libyan-Senegalese joint commission were discussed, and the need to complete and activate its results, as well as the formation of a preparatory committee of the two countries to coordinate the holding of the third session of the commission to increase cooperation between the two countries.
It should be noted that the African Union (AU) has increased its involvement in the Libyan issue which was crowned by the appointment of the Senegalese, Abdoulaye Bathily as Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to continue mediation efforts between the Libyan parties to the conflict to find a solution to the crisis.
The AU is also considering organizing a conference on national reconciliation in Libya through the African Union High Level Committee on Libya, chaired by Congo, in collaboration with the Libyan Presidential Council.
With its political process deadlocked since the postponement of last December's elections, Libya has been left with two rival governments, heightening tension in the country and leading to direct armed clashes between the armed groups supporting each side.
Mediation efforts are currently focused on re-launching the electoral process to hold legislative and presidential elections on a consensual constitutional basis as soon as possible.
The disagreements between the Parliament and the High Council of State on a legal text on the basis of which national elections will be held, concern the eligibility of binationals and the military.
But, in reality, it is the interference of international and regional powers that are pulling the strings that explain these blockages, according to observers of the Libyan political scene.
-0- PANA BY/IS/BBA/RA 12Sept2022
