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Libya

The African Union Ad hoc High-Level Committee on Libya meets in Nouakchott on 19 March 2011

Addis Ababa, 17 March 2011: The African Union (AU) Ad hoc High-Level Committee on Libya, established in pursuance of the communiqué on the situation in Libya adopted by the 265th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) held in Addis Ababa, on 10 March 2011, will meet in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 19 March 2011, to determine the modalities of the implementation of its mandate. Following this meeting, the members of the Committee will undertake to engage the Libyan parties and assess the situation in Libya.

It is to be recalled that, in line with the PSC communiqué, the Committee's work aims at leading an urgent African action to address the situation in Libya, revolving around the following elements: (i) the immediate cessation of all hostilities, (ii) the cooperation of the competent Libyan authorities to facilitate the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to the needy populations, (iii) the protection of foreign nationals, including the African migrants living in Libya, and (iv) the adoption and implementation of the political reforms necessary for the elimination of the causes of the current crisis. Within this context, the Committee is mandated to engage with all parties in Libya and assess the evolution of the situation on the ground; facilitate an inclusive dialogue among the Libyan parties on the appropriate reforms; as well as to engage AU's partners, in particular the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the European Union and the United Nations, to facilitate coordination of efforts and seek their support for the early resolution of the crisis.

The High-Level Committee is composed of the Heads of State of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Republic of Congo, the Republic of Mali, the Republic of South Africa, and the Republic of Uganda, as well as the Chairperson of the AU Commission.