Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Monday welcomed the latest ceasefire agreement among warring factions in Libya. Chairperson of the 55-member pan African bloc, in a statement issued on Monday, has welcomed the latest ceasefire agreement among warring factions in Libya, expressing his hope regarding the possibility of a permanent cessation of hostilities in the war-torn North African nation.
“Chairperson of the AU Commission welcomes the acceptance by the parties in Libya of a ceasefire on January 12, and expresses hope that the meeting between the parties in Moscow, Russia will lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities,” an AU statement issued on Monday read. The AU Commission Chairperson further called on the parties “to ensure safe corridors for the provision of humanitarian assistance particularly in the areas of Tarik al-Sidra, Tarik al-Shok and Salahaddin in the capital Tripoli.”
Mahamat further called on “all stakeholders to concentrate their efforts towards the continuation of the peace process.” He also reiterated that the AU, which is convening the AU High Committee on Libya on latter this month in Brazzaville, capital of Congo, “looks forward to working closely with the local, regional and international stakeholders towards a final and permanent settlement to the Libyan conflict.” The AU, which recently stressed the necessity of a Libyan-owned and led process towards creating a new political dispensation in the war-torn nation, had also last week expressed its “deep concern on the deterioration of the situation in Libya, and the continuing suffering with the Libyan people.” Libya has been locked in a civil war since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Several armed militias of different backgrounds emerged, and have been fighting each other to take power, although a peace deal was signed by the warring parties on Dec. 17, 2015 in the Moroccan city of Skhirat
