Chairperson of the African Union Commission,Mahmoud Ali Youssouf,has voiced “deep concern” over the recent deadly armed clashes in Libya’s capital,Tripoli.
The head of the AU Commission emphasized,in a statement released over the weekend,the significance of demilitarizing Tripoli,pointing to the armed conflicts that have caused fatalities and property damage. He welcomed the return of cautious calm and the recent cease-fire,but urged all sides to avoid any actions or words that could further destabilize the already precarious security situation.
Additionally,Youssouf reaffirmed the AU’s backing for initiatives to restore civilian order and protect the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in accordance with international law. In order to put an end to Libya’s protracted transitional period and bring about long-lasting peace and development,he urged national responsibility and participation in an all-encompassing political process. The AU’s strong support for Libya was reiterated by the chairperson,who also called on all parties to pledge to the National Reconciliation Charter,which was signed in February in Addis Ababa,the capital of Ethiopia.
After two days of bloody clashes between rival factions that claimed at least six lives,Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU),based in Tripoli,announced on Thursday that the security situation in the capital has stabilized.
Since the NATO-supported 2011 uprising,Libya has remained divided,with rival governments in Tripoli and the East. Despite repeated calls for disarmament and the unification of security institutions,armed factions continue to vie for influence,frequently through violence,within Tripoli and other areas under GNU control.
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