African Union officially recognises Libya’s new leadership
on SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 · in NEWS
     
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – The African Union has officially recognised Libya’s National Transitional Council as the country’s legitimate leadership, the group’s chairman said in a statement Tuesday.

The announcement was transmitted by the office of South African President Jacob Zuma, six days after he hosted a meeting of the AU’s special panel on Libya in Pretoria.

The president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who holds the bloc’s rotating chair, made the announcement after consulting with the panel in New York, ahead of the UN General Assembly, the statement said.

Obiang Nguema “hereby announces that the African Union recognises the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the representative of the Libyan people as they form an all-inclusive transitional government that will occupy the Libyan seat at the African Union.”

“The African Union stands ready to support the Libyan people… as they rebuild their country towards a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Libya,” it said.

The AU’s reluctance to formally recognise Libya’s new leadership had created a split on the continent, as about 20 nations had already established ties.

At the AU panel’s meeting last week in Pretoria, the group had “committed itself to working with the NTC” but stopped short of formally recognising it.

The AU has doggedly stuck to its own “roadmap” to the Libyan conflict and criticised the NATO bombing campaign.

The rebellion had rejected the AU proposal, insisting on the removal of Moamer Kadhafi from power.

But earlier this month, the NTC gave assurances that it would work to meet key concerns of the African Union, promising that they remained committed to the African continent and to building national unity after Kadhafi’s ouster, the statement said.

The NTC also promised to protect foreign workers, including black Africans, following allegations that many had been detained on suspicions they had worked as mercenaries for Kadhafi.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h2NflCTWlrw96Cs-Ts7A7Xcem2dA?docId=CNG.a8a1185f4a08d2928999ea8643dc5bd9.501

jba203:

The African Union + South Africa did not say they would not recognize the NTC. Their position has always been that the NTC should give assurances that they are going to form an all inclusive Goverment across the board, and they should form a goverment that seeks to promote peace, reconciliation, democracy and rule of law. During the African Union Panel Meeting on Libya, held in South Africa, the chairperson read out the letter from the NTC, giving assurances to those conditions, as they stem out of the AU position.

Nigeria's recognition of the NTC that quick with little information of the prospect of that entity's direction showed how easilsy they can succumb to western pressure and manipulation. There are more than 400 Nigerians who are detained in Libya by the rebels,cos they are been suspected of being mercenaries. Hence Nigeria's absent during the UN voting on wether the NTC should occupy its seat during this year's UNGA 66. Nigeria has jumped the gun, no doubt.

The African Union + South Africa did not loose out, they got what they wanted a written assurance from the NTC.

ziccoit:

You people are funny. Who did GEJ meet and consult before he made the pronouncement? You can see how widely the good Africa leaders go before they dive. That is what we call pure reasoning.  

jba203:

The African Union + South Africa did not say they would not recognize the NTC. Their position has always been that the NTC should give assurances that they are going to form an all inclusive Goverment across the board, and they should form a goverment that seeks to promote peace, reconciliation, democracy and rule of law. During the African Union Panel Meeting on Libya, held in South Africa, the chairperson read out the letter from the NTC, giving assurances to those conditions, as they stem out of the AU position.

Nigeria's recognition of the NTC that quick with little information of the prospect of that entity's direction showed how easilsy they can succumb to western pressure and manipulation. There are more than 400 Nigerians who are detained in Libya by the rebels,cos they are been suspected of being mercenaries. Hence Nigeria's absent during the UN voting on wether the NTC should occupy its seat during this year's UNGA 66. Nigeria has jumped the gun, no doubt.

The African Union + South Africa did not loose out, they got what they wanted a written assurance from the NTC.

Intelligent post,.
Also i think that the FG didn't base their decision to recognise the NTC on any concrete fact. It is beginning to sound like a random thot as nothing as being said to be the reason for recognising them. In addition, am still baffled why Nigeria was absent from the vote on recognising the NTC at the UNGA 66, Where's Reuben Abati ooooo abi na honourable Minister, I think it's high time we start demanding answers to our leader's actions or in this case inactions, Huh Huh Huh Huh Huh Huh

dustydee:

I still do not support the invasion of Libya

cicero:

If it took them this long to realize the obvious then Africa is in danger of extinction.
GEJ made a very smart decision in recognizing the NTC when he did, it is only a dullard that wouldn't  see that Gaddafi failed the day NATO joined forces with the NTC.
I was surprised that people called him names for going in that direction, and these were people I considered more intelligent than myself.

cicero:

Nigeria didn't jump the gun, rather AU was guided by immoral and dictatorial individuals who felt the need to stick by their kind and benefactor. There was no option at the time they were making noise, NTC was getting all the support their needed from NATO anyway and they were obviously going to form a government. Who were they fighting to be included in the government anyway? Is it the same people that were being killed by one man's ego tripping while their kept quiet and were instead giving Gadaffi false assurances of meaningless support?

GEJ has been vindicated and no grammar can change it.

jba203:

The African Union + South Africa did not say they would not recognize the NTC. Their position has always been that the NTC should give assurances that they are going to form an all inclusive Goverment across the board, and they should form a goverment that seeks to promote peace, reconciliation, democracy and rule of law. During the African Union Panel Meeting on Libya, held in South Africa, the chairperson read out the letter from the NTC, giving assurances to those conditions, as they stem out of the AU position.

Nigeria's recognition of the NTC that quick with little information of the prospect of that entity's direction showed how easilsy they can succumb to western pressure and manipulation. There are more than 400 Nigerians who are detained in Libya by the rebels,cos they are been suspected of being mercenaries. Hence Nigeria's absent during the UN voting on wether the NTC should occupy its seat during this year's UNGA 66. Nigeria has jumped the gun, no doubt.

The African Union + South Africa did not loose out, they got what they wanted a written assurance from the NTC.

cicero:

Nigeria didn't jump the gun, rather AU was guided by immoral and dictatorial individuals who felt the need to stick by their kind and benefactor.

cicero:


Nigeria didn't jump the gun, rather AU was guided by immoral and dictatorial individuals who felt the need to stick by their kind and benefactor. There was no option at the time they were making noise, NTC was getting all the support their needed from NATO anyway and they were obviously going to form a government. Who were they fighting to be included in the government anyway? Is it the same people that were being killed by one man's ego tripping while their kept quiet and were instead giving Gadaffi false assurances of meaningless support?

GEJ has been vindicated and no grammar can change it.

cap28:

[b]goodluck jonathan is a complete disgrace to the african continent, [/b]he has no self respect and that is why he allows himself to be kicked around by the west, hillary clinton speaks him and other african leaders as if they are pre school children , this is the kind of behaviour gadaffi would never tolerate from the west.  the AU tried to stand their ground and stop the ongoing carnage in libya but they were dismissed, ignored and treated with utter contempt by the NATO powers.

throughout this libyan crisis nigeria has acted as pawns of the NATO powers, they voted in favour of a no fly zone - (which is an act of war) against  a fellow african nation, they then recognised a govt that continues to kill its own citizens - a raciist genocidal govt whose aim is to ethnically cleanse the blacks from libya , the nigerian govt has shown itself to be nothing more than a traitor and an errand boy for the western nations.