Addis Ababa—Libyan representatives signed on Friday the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation during a gathering at the African Union’s (AU) headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
The African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security (PAPS) said after the signing ceremony “the event marks a key step in the African Union’s efforts to support peace and reconciliation Libya”.
President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, who also the Chair of the AU High-Level Committee on Libya, headed the signing ceremony along with the Chair of the Union, represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania, President of Equatorial Guinea and the Chair of AU Commission Mr. Moussa Faki.
The Libyan parties that signed the charter-included representatives from the Parliament, the High State Council, a representatives of presidential candidate Saif al-Islam Gaddafi along with other Libyan dignitaries. Despite the lack of consensus among the competing parties over the charter, it still represent another try in the direction of bring peace and stability to Libya.
The head of the Presidential Council, Mohammed al-Menfi who was present in Addis Ababa for the AU Summit did not sign the Charter. The Government of National Unity also did not send a representative to sign the reconciliation accord.
However, the member of the Presidential Council, Musa Al-Koni, did his best to attract the attention by declining to sign the charter at the last minute, justifying his action by the absence of political leaders such as the Commander of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar and the head of the GNU Abdulhamid Dbeibeh.
According to observers, Al-Koni failed the expectations of the Libyan people once again, because he has been in charge of the reconciliation file since the project was adopted in 2021.
The charter represents a first step towards relaunching the electoral process, after the postponement of the presidential elections scheduled for 2018, then in 24 December 2021.
On January 28, the statement of the Preparatory Committee for the Comprehensive National Reconciliation Conference held in Zintan announced the completion of all necessary arrangements to announce the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation.
The committee said that this charter represents the fruit of the cooperation of Libyans, the support of the African Union, and the will of the Libyan people to turn the page and move towards development and stability.
The committee indicated that the charter is the beginning of a new era based on joint work to build a strong state based on the rule of law and human rights.
