Al-Menfi: The American initiative on Libya is welcome if it is presented through national constitutional institutions

Tripoli, June 30, 2026 (LANA) – President of the Presidential Council, Mohammed Al-Menfi, affirmed that the African continent, along with its regional and international surroundings, faces complex challenges, rapid transformations, and successive crises that impact African countries and peoples.

This came in a speech he delivered today, Tuesday, during his participation in the second meeting of the Executive Bureau of the African Union, held via videoconference (Zoom), in his capacity as a member of the Bureau. The meeting was convened at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, who also serves as the Chairperson of the African Union. The meeting was attended by members of the Bureau of the African Union Assembly, which includes Burundi, Ghana, Tanzania, Libya, and Angola, according to the Presidential Council's media office.

Al-Menfi stated that the Libyan file represents a clear example of these challenges, emphasizing that preserving and strengthening the pivotal role of the African Union, alongside Libyan national constitutional institutions and the UN-sponsored process, constitutes a collective responsibility to guarantee Libya's unity, sovereignty, and stability, and to restore its active role within the African system. He commended the statement issued by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, which endorsed the step taken by the three Libyan constitutional institutions—the House of Representatives, the High Council of State, and the Presidential Council—as a national framework for addressing the Libyan crisis.

He added that while there is talk of an American initiative concerning the situation in Libya, which we welcome if it is presented through national constitutional institutions, leaving the matter to speculation raises concerns that national constitutional institutions, the African Union, the UN process, and the entire Libyan political spectrum might be excluded. This underscores the need to reiterate that preserving the African role in the Libyan file, and in all other continental issues, is a collective responsibility that rests on all of us.

Al-Menfi stressed that these circumstances necessitate enhanced consultation and coordination among member states, a unified stance to defend the continent's interests, a strengthened presence on the international stage, and the acceleration of the implementation of the African Union's Agenda 2063, which will positively impact the lives of African citizens.

He also emphasized the need for African states to take the initiative in addressing their crises by activating their own mechanisms and capabilities through their regional and continental institutions, embodying the principle of "African solutions to African problems." This will ensure overcoming challenges without external interference, guardianship, or dictates that disregard the specificities of African states and their constitutional institutions. He expressed his full support for the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union, scheduled to be held in the Republic of Angola next August, under the theme "Strengthening Conflict Prevention and Resolution Mechanisms in Africa."

The head of the Presidential Council called for the inclusion of the issue of illegal immigration among the priorities of joint African action, considering it a distinctly African issue, particularly regarding migration to Europe and its repercussions on African countries' relations with their European neighbors and partners, as well as the drain on the skills and human resources the continent needs to achieve development and build its economies.

Al-Menfi concluded his remarks by affirming Libya's commitment to continuing joint work in a spirit of cooperation and consensus with African countries, contributing to strengthening the effectiveness of the African Union institutions and consolidating a unified African position, serving the continent's higher interests and ultimately achieving the desired integration and prosperity.

...(LANA)...