The Chairperson of the African Union H E Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea, received a briefing from the Ad Hoc Committee of the AU Peace and Security Council regarding the developments in Libya, on the eve of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The briefing was based on the outcomes of the meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council held in Addis Ababa on 26 August 2011 and the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Libya held on 14 September 2011 in Pretoria.

At both meetings, the African Union encouraged the Libyan stakeholders to form an all-inclusive transitional government that would work towards the promotion of national unity, reconciliation and democracy and urged the National Transitional Council (NTC) to protect all foreign workers, including African migrant workers.

The leadership of the National Transitional Council, in its letter to the Chairperson of the Commission on 5 September 2011, provided assurances stressing their commitment 1) to the African continent; 2) to give priority to national unity and to bring together all Libyan stakeholders, without any exception, to rebuild the country; and 3) to protect all foreign workers within Libya, including the African migrant workers. These commitments were in line with the provisions of the AU Roadmap.

Against this background, the Chairperson of the African Union, after further consultations, hereby announces that the African Union recognizes the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the representative of the Libyan people as they form an all-inclusive transitional government that will occupy the Libyan seat at the African Union.

The African Union stands ready to support the Libyan people, on the basis of the AU Roadmap and working together with the international community, as they rebuild their country towards a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Libya.