The 14-member states of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on Thursday lifted its sanctions on Libya.
Mr Ramtane Lamamra, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in
Addis Ababa on Thursday after the council’s meeting that all AU sanctions against Libya had been lifted with immediate effect.
Some of the sanctions include the suspension of Libya as a member of the PSC and participation in all AU activities.
“The PSC has met and lifted all sanctions against Libya. The country can now take its seat in the PSC and participate in all AU activities with effect from today under the leadership of the PSC,’’ Lamamra said.
Lamamra said the council had called on Libya under the leadership of the Transitional National Council (TNC) to take back its seat in the AU, including membership of the PSC and participation in all organs of the commission.
“The decisions of the council on Aug. 26, 2011 has been lifted, the TNC is free to send a permanent representative to the commission as soon as possible,’’ he said.
As part of relaxing the suspension, Libya’s new flag was hoisted at both the commission’s premises and its plenary hall.
Lamamra refused to comment on the reported capture and killing of the former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, but said, however, that the commission would verify the reports.
“There are conflicting reports about the capture and killing of Gaddafi. We need to confirm these reports before we can make comments,’’ he said
Lamamra said the council had also extended the tenure of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan which would expire by the end of October by one year with effect from Nov. 1.
The panel which was head by Mr Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa, had former Presidents Abdulsalam Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya as members.