Representative of African Union in Libya: Libya’s crisis needs reasonable solutions

FORMER President Jakaya Kikwete participated in the consultative meeting of Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) in Libya at the weekend and called on members to share “the unique responsibility that the country has bestowed upon them’’.

CDA of Libya held its crucial consultative meeting in Salalah on Saturday following an invitation from Sultanate of Oman and United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The aim of the meeting was to consult and deliberate on the remaining constitutional issues that are yet to be resolved.

A 70-member delegation, including 32 members of the CDA, staff members of the UNSMIL and CDA arrived in Salalah for the meeting, which is likely to continue until today. It is being held under the leadership of Dr Aljelani Abdelsalam Rhouma, President of the Libyan Constitution Drafting Assembly. “You are living in the situation every day; you know the solution.

We are here to assist you in whatever way possible,” said Mr Kikwete, who doubles as a representative of the African Union (AU) in Libya. Mr Kikwete, was named new AU special envoy to Libya towards the end of January, replacing former Djibouti Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita. Libya has been in turmoil since the ouster of longtime leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011.

It now has two governments and parliaments, with the internationally-recognised authorities based in the east and a militia-backed authority in the capital Tripoli. Mr Kikwete said the expectations of Libyans were to have a constitution that would solve problems bedevilling them.

He commended the efforts by the United Nations under Martin Kobler, who is a Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNSMIL.

UN seeks a final solution for Libya’s political woes through Libya Political Agreement that was signed on December 17, 2015 in Shkirat, Morocco. Apart from Mr Kikwete, the meeting held in Oman was also attended by Mr Kobler and the Sultanate’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah.

The Sultanate’s Minister for Foreign Affairs exhorted the CDA members to complete the important job of drafting the constitution to re-emerge as a strong nation. “I hope you will emerge as a unified country because you have the capacity, strength and you have your future in your hands,” he said while addressing CDA members.

He also reminded them that countries are built not on the basis of conflict, but on the very foundation of consensus, love, trust and tolerance. Mr Kobler thanked Oman for hosting the meeting and called upon the CDA members to avail the great opportunity that is in front of them to adopt the draft constitution and re-build Libya as a great nation.

He reiterated the support of the international community, at the same time he assured that there would be no outside interference and the constitution of Libya had to be the very own of the Libyan people.

“Anything that is imposed does not last. Thus for the sake of sustainability the CDA has to come out with a draft constitution, and get it ratified by the people of Libya,” he said.