African Union’s Libya peace plan hits wall in Addis Ababa

The African Union’s latest peace initiative for Libya faced a significant setback today in Addis Ababa, as representatives from the country’s eastern and western regions notably abstained from signing the Charter for Peace and Reconciliation. Only delegates aligned with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi participated in the signing ceremony.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of the Congo and Chairman of the African Union High-Level Committee on Libya, remained optimistic despite the limited participation. “This charter could pave the way for Libya to establish a unified government, national army, and sovereign institutions”, he stated during the ceremony.

Musa al-Koni, member of Libya’s internationally recognised Presidential Council, criticised the absent political leaders, attributing Libya’s stalled reconciliation process to their non-participation. “Their absence from today’s ceremony in Addis Ababa represents a significant obstacle to achieving national unity”, al-Koni declared.

The charter faced additional criticism from political analyst Mohamed Takala, who highlighted fundamental concerns about its framework. “The document conflates national reconciliation with political settlement”, Takala explained, adding that it overlooks crucial elements of transitional justice and disregards the established Law No 29 of 2013 from the General National Congress.

The path to today’s ceremony began on 28 January, when the Preparatory Committee for the Comprehensive Conference for National Reconciliation announced in Zintan that preparations for the peace charter were complete. The committee emphasised that the document represented a collaborative effort between Libyans and the African Union.

Diplomatic efforts intensified in late January, with Congolese Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso leading an African Union delegation to key Libyan cities. The delegation met with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), in Benghazi on 27 January, followed by discussions with political, military, and social leaders in Zintan on 28 January.

Earlier this year, on 7 January 2024, the House of Representatives in Benghazi approved the National Reconciliation Law by majority vote. Political figure Aguila Saleh has called for the law’s adoption without modifications.

Libya has struggled with political division since 2014, with parallel governments operating in the east and west, impeding efforts to establish lasting peace and unified governance. The current reconciliation efforts represent the latest attempt to bridge this divide under international mediation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​