AU holds special session on Libya on Thursday

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) will hold an extraordinary session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday to discuss developments in Libya.

The North African country has been in the throes of a political and security crisis exacerbated by a deadlock preventing the holding of general elections to renew the legitimacy of institutions more than 14 years after the revolution of 17 February 2011 that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.

The session, the first at the level of heads of state and government since 2011, will address the Libyan issue under the chairmanship of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in his capacity as Chair of the AU Peace and Security Council for the month of July.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, will deliver a statement setting out the general framework for the discussion.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, is expected to give a detailed briefing on the current situation in the North African country.

According to Libyan media reports citing information published in Ethiopia, a final statement is expected to be issued on the summit, calling on the Libyan protagonists to make the necessary concessions to end the state of division and asking for the implementation of reforms in the security sector.

This statement will confirm support for the efforts of the United Nations and the African Union in the reconciliation process.

The Peace and Security Council will also stress the need to maintain order, disarm non-governmental forces in the capital and make efforts to restore civil order in the country.

Over the past two days, Ms. Tetteh, has continued her consultations with AU officials in preparation for this meeting.

On Tuesday, she met with Angolan Foreign Minister Tete António, in his capacity as Chair of the AU Executive Council, with whom she discussed the political and security situation and its implications for the Sahel region.

They also discussed issues related to national reconciliation and irregular migration, according to a statement released on Wednesday by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

The two sides stressed the need for the AU and the international community to adopt a unified and rapid response to support the political process in the country, while striving to prevent any further outbreak of conflict and violence.

The meeting addressed the recent meeting of the International Follow-up Committee on Libya, held in Berlin last month, in which both parties stressed the importance of cooperation between the AU and the UN to advance the political process facilitated by UNSMIL, given its crucial importance for the consolidation of peace, security and stability in the country.

The deadlock in the political situation has led to institutional division, with two governments, one in Tripoli and the other appointed by the parliament based in the east of the country.

UNSMIL continued to hold wide-ranging consultations on the conclusions of the Advisory Committee, which it established and which is composed of 20 figures with political, constitutional, legal and electoral expertise, including men and women representing the different regions and cultural components of Libya.

This Committee proposed technically sound and politically viable options for resolving the contentious issues hindering the holding of elections, with the aim of helping Libya unify its institutions and move towards peace and stability.

Currently, UNSMIL officials are holding meetings in preparation for the announcement of a roadmap for the political process.

-0- PANA BY/JSG/SOC/BBA/MA 24July2025