Tripoli: President of the Presidential Council, Mohammed Al-Menfi, has expressed his support for the American initiative concerning Libya, provided it is introduced through national constitutional institutions. Al-Menfi emphasized the importance of this condition during his speech at the second meeting of the Executive Bureau of the African Union, held via videoconference. The meeting, convened by the President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, also saw the attendance of members from countries including Ghana, Tanzania, Libya, and Angola.
According to Libyan News Agency, Al-Menfi underscored the African continent's challenges, transformations, and crises impacting its countries and peoples. Specifically, he highlighted the Libyan situation as a clear example of these challenges. He stressed the collective responsibility of preserving the pivotal role of the African Union, alongside Libyan national constitutional institutions and the UN-sponsored process, to ensure Libya's unity, sovereignty, and stability.
Al-Menfi acknowledged the endorsement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission of the national framework established by Libya's House of Representatives, the High Council of State, and the Presidential Council to address the Libyan crisis. He cautioned against the exclusion of national institutions, the African Union, and the UN process from any American initiative, reiterating the importance of maintaining the African role in resolving Libyan and other continental issues.
He called for enhanced consultation and coordination among African states, a unified stance to protect the continent's interests, and a strengthened international presence. Al-Menfi emphasized the need for African states to address their crises using their mechanisms, embodying "African solutions to African problems," to overcome challenges without external interference.
Al-Menfi expressed full support for the upcoming African Union Extraordinary Summit in Angola, which will focus on strengthening conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms in Africa. He also prioritized tackling illegal immigration, highlighting its impact on relations with European neighbors and the continent's development.
Concluding his remarks, Al-Menfi affirmed Libya's commitment to cooperative efforts with African countries, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of African Union institutions and achieve integration and prosperity for the continent.