Addis Ababa, 1 February 2012: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, has appointed Mr. Mondher Rezgui as Special Representative and Head of the AU Liaison Office in Libya, with residence in Tripoli.
Mr. Rezgui is at present Minister Counsellor in the office of the President of the Republic of Tunisia. He has previously occupied the post of Director of Cabinet in the Office of the President with the rank of Minister. Between 1989 and 2011, he occupied different posts in the Parliament, including Chargé de Mission in the office of the Speaker of the Parliament and Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Research and Studies. Mr. Rezgui is specialised in political science.
It should be recalled that the opening of a Liaison office in Tripoli was authorized by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) at its 297th meeting held on 20 October 2011. In conformity with all the decisions of the relevant organs of the African Union, the mandate of the Office is to support the efforts to stabilise the situation, promote national reconciliation and facilitate the transitional process towards democratic institutions, in cooperation with the United Nations and the other international partners.
On 17 January 2012, the Chairperson of the Commission visited Libya to consult with the Libyan authorities, and an important delegation of the Government of Libya participated in the sessions of the Executive Council and of the Assembly of the African Union, which have just taken place in Addis Ababa.