African Union discusses possible peace force for Libya

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he supports the African Union (AU) taking a greater role in mediating the Libya crisis, acknowledging the bloc’s frustration at being sidelined so far.

The AU leadership has complained of being overlooked in peace-making efforts related to Libya, which have been led primarily by the U.N. and heavily involved European nations.

“We want the African representatives to attend all the meetings,” Guterres said, apparently in ire about the fact that involvement of Africa in the Berlin conference on Libya was minimal.

Guterres’ remarks came in a news conference he held a day before the official opening of the African Union’s 33rd Assembly of African Heads of State and Government.

“There are a number of players and military equipment and armies in Libya that made peace between Libyans impossible. This is unacceptable; it is a violation the U.N. arms embargo,” he said.

“Critical to (the resolution of the) Libyan crisis is to increase international cooperation with African countries. We need international cooperation with the U.N. Security Council,” he urged.

“Africa has been put aside in relation to Libya … We believe it is absolutely essential to associate the African Union in searching (for) a solution to the Libyan conflict,” he added.

“I still support African Union’s decision to convene an inter-Libya reconciliation forum after Brazzaville summit,” he added.

In the meantime, in response to a question by Al Jazeera about the possibility of the creation of an African force for peace in Libya, Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso said the idea is being discussed at the summit.

Read more via Daily Sabah/ Al Jazeera