Addis Ababa, 18 January 2015: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, welcomes the announcements made by the Libyan National Army and the Libya Dawn Coalition to observe a cessation of hostilities. She recalls that the AU has repeatedly appealed to the Libyan parties to bring to an immediate end the violence tearing their country apart and resort to dialogue, as the only way to overcome their differences and respond to the aspirations of their people to peace, democracy, the rule of law and socio-economic wellbeing. She urges the Libyan parties to live up to their expressed commitment and to build on this positive development, with the view to expediting the search for a lasting solution to the current crisis.
The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU's commitment, working with the countries of the region, as well as with the larger international community, including the United Nations, within the framework of the International Contact Group for Libya (ICG-L), to continue supporting the Libyan people and stakeholders as they strive to address the daunting challenges facing their country and promote genuine national reconciliation. She stresses that a peaceful, stable and democratic Libya will be a tremendous asset for the continent as a whole.