ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 26, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, today, received, at the AU Headquarters, Ambassador Nuri Mohamed Bait Almal, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of the State of Libya, Abdullah al-Thani. The meeting was attended by the Permanent Representative of Libya to the AU, Amb. Mahfud Rajab Rahiam.
The Special Envoy briefed the Chairperson of the Commission on the peace and security situation in Libya, including the presence of terrorist groups affiliated to the so-called Islamic State. He indicated that the worsening scourge of terrorism was a threat not only to Libya but also to the region and the rest of the continent. He conveyed the wish of the Libyan Government to see the AU playing a more active and prominent role.
The Chairperson of the Commission reiterated the AU’s deep concern about the prevailing situation. She stressed the critical role to be played by the AU, given its responsibilities towards the promotion of peace, security and stability in the entire continent and the far reaching implications of the present situation for regional security and stability. In this respect, she indicated that the necessary steps are being taken to enable the AU to play its rightful role in support of peace efforts in Libya, in coordination with the neighboring countries and the United Nations.
The Chairperson of the Commission and the Special Envoy also discussed other issues of mutual concern. In particular, they exchanged views on the issue of migration and ways and means of ensuring close coordination of efforts between Libya and its neighbors in order to address the challenges at hand. In this respect, the Chairperson of the Commission informed the Special Envoy that the Commission is planning to convene a meeting of Senior Officials on migration, following the Valetta Summit of 11 and 12 November 2015.
