Africa: At UN, AU Finally Recognises Libya's Tnc

New York — African Union (AU) - the continental body to which Libya belongs - has announced its recognition of the Transitional National Council (TNC) as the representative of the Libyan people.

The recognition was announced on Tuesday by AU Chairman and Equatorial Guinea President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, at a high level meeting on Libya held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

With that recognition, TNC, which participated in yesterday's United Nations high level meeting will now occupy Libyan seat in the AU. The regional body however requested TNC to form an all-inclusive transitional government.

There had been sharp divisions among members of the AU over the recognition of TNC, which now controls most of Libya and whose fighters had been engaged in serious battle with troops loyal to Muammar Gadhaffi, who had ruled Libya for over four decades. Nigeria is however the first African country that recognised the TNC.

Last Friday, 114 countries voted, at a UN General Assembly session, in favour of credentialing the TNC as the representative of Libya, while 17 countries voted against it. A counter motion put forward by Angola on behalf of Southern African Development Cooperation (SADC) was defeated as 107 voted against it, while 22 voted in its favour. (Source: This Day)

Premising the recognition on the letter it received on September 5, 2011, AU said TNC has given assurances of its commitment to the African continent, to give priority to national unity, and to protect all foreign workers in Libya, including African migrants.

At the high-level meeting, which was moderated by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, various speeches were delivered by leaders of countries that were in attendance.

United States, South Africa, Gabon, Lebanon, Cote d'Ivoire, Equitorial Guinea, Senegal, Ukraine, France and Quatar, were among countries whose leaders spoke.

All the leaders that spoke expressed full support to the interim Libyan authorities represented by the President of the TNC, Mr. Mustafa Abdel Jalil, and the Head of the Executive Committee of the TNC, Mr. Mahmood Jubril.

They however urged the TNC to expedite the formation of a new inclusive interim government that reflects the diversity of Libyan society and build a new, united, democratic and pluralistic Libya in which human rights, fundamental freedoms and justice would be guaranteed.

In his own address, Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade, revealed the behind-the -scene role he palyed to ensure that Libya was spared of the civil strife that engulfed the North African country.

Wade however regretted that Muammar Gadhaffi failed to heed his advice to quit power and spare Libya of violence.

In his words: "I am here to speak to Gadhaffi. On the 6th of October, we had an hour and half long conversation at the end of which I asked him to step aside, he did not listen to me.

"In June, I went to Benghazi to speak to him directly and what I said to him, now everything has played out. Spare Africans and Libya from the pains, spare the world from the pains, spare the world from the pains, but he did not listen to me.

"Today, I do not know where he is but I want to speak to him and to say to him that everything that has happened in the world since the 6th of October till now, will bring everyone to the conclusion that you must stop step down, you must state publicly that you renounce violence and that you make an appeal to your supporters to stop fighting."

Addressing the gathering, Obama praised all nations that stood to save Libyans from Gadhaffi's regime saying, "Libya is a lesson in what the international community can achieve when we stand together as one."

Assuring Libyans that they would continue to be their friend and partner, he said, "Today, I can announce that our ambassador is on his way back to Tripoli. And this week, the American flag that was lowered before our embassy was attacked will be raised again, over a re-opened American embassy."

Also at the UN yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan, who arrived New York on Monday night, attended a high-level meeting of the General Assembly desertification, land degradation and drought. He co-chaired the interractive panel with Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Mr. Jean Asselborn.