Algeria Calls On The African Union To Play A Clear Role In Resolving The Libyan dispute

Foreign Minister, Sabri Boukadoum called on the African Union and the United Nations to coordinate joint efforts and initiatives to reach a unified road map leading to a solution to the Libyan crisis.

“The Libyan conflict is, above all, an African conflict”, Boukadoum said in a speech during a meeting of the African Union’s Security and Peace Council on Saturday, in Niger.

“The role of the African Union must be clearer as a key partner of the United Nations in resolving conflict in Africa, as part of a complementary approach”.

Referring to the confusion of multiple initiatives to resolve the crisis, the minister said: “The African Union and the UN should work closely together to develop a unified road map and work towards achieving greater coherence between the efforts and initiatives that were launched by the two organizations in order to reach the goal of resolving the crisis.”

According to Boukadoum, the priority is to “unite all Libyans within the framework of an open and responsible path of national dialogue and reconciliation”.

“The Libyans must begin, as soon as possible, a comprehensive course of national reconciliation as a necessary framework that would end the division and reach the desired goal, which is organizing transparent elections under the auspices of the African Union and the United Nations”.

The representative of Algerian diplomacy considered that the organization of such elections, which results must be respected by all parties involved, would contribute to the establishment of a climate of confidence and the establishment of permanent democratic governmental bodies, including a unified national army, which would be solely responsible for ensuring the security of the country.

Regarding the situation of African migrants in Libya, Boukadoum said that it is linked to the great crisis in the country since 2011, asserting the need for an immediate return to the comprehensive dialogue between all the Libyan parties, in order to reach a compromise solution to this protracted crisis.

Boukadoum warned of the deterioration of the security situation in Libya, saying; “The lack of control of the authorities in all the Libyan territory, especially the border areas of the country, has enabled the terrorist groups to exploit this situation in order to penetrate and spread more in an environment that is characterized by the drug trade, weapons and trafficking in human beings”.