The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 642nd meeting held on 6 December 2016, adopted the following decision on the outcome of the meeting of the AU High-Level Committee on Libya, held in Addis Ababa, on 8 November 2016, at the level of Heads of State and Government:

Council:

1. Takes note of the briefing made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui. Council also takes note of the Statement made by the Permanent Representative of Libya to the AU;
2. Recalls its previous communiques and press statements on the situation in Libya, in particular, communique (PSC/PR/COMM. (DCIV), adopted at its 604th meeting held on 9 June 2016, in which Council stressed AU’s deep concern at the prevailing humanitarian and security situation in the country and strongly condemned all acts of violence;
3. Welcomes the convening of the meeting of the AU High-Level Committee on Libya, and the neighboring countries of Libya, held in Addis Ababa, on 8 November 2016, at the level of Heads of State and Government, and fully endorses the communique of that meeting;
4. Expresses deep concern at the escalating violence, the deadlock in the political process, and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country. In this context, Council reaffirms its conviction that there is no military solution to the conflict in Libya and that all Libyan stakeholders must strive to overcome their political differences through dialogue;
5. Urges the Members of the House of Representatives (HoR) and the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) to work together with a view to resolving the outstanding political issues dividing them and to chart a positive way forward. In this regard, Council underscores the urgent need for the appointment of a new and more inclusive list of cabinet towards the formation of a new GNA. Council also urges the HoR to endorse, as soon as possible, the new consensual list, as provided for in the Libyan Political Agreement. Council appeals to the current GNA to continue to perform its duties until the endorsement of a new cabinet by the HoR;
6. Encourages all Libyan stakeholders, while expressing its satisfaction for the gains made in the fight against terrorism and, in particular, the defeat of the Islamic State in Sirte, to continue the fight until the complete elimination of these terrorist elements from the Libyan territory. In this regard, Council appeals to AU Member States and the international community, as a whole, to continue to extend their support to the GNA, in the efforts aimed at eliminating the terrorist threat;
7. Reaffirms its commitment to uphold the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya, and calls for the end of all external interference in the internal affairs of Libya, in order to avoid further escalation of the crisis and impede progress in the peace process;
8. Commends the continued efforts of the neighboring countries of Libya to bring peace in the country. In this context, Council welcomes the recommendation by the AU High-Level Committee to the forthcoming Summit of the AU, to include the neighboring countries of Libya, as full members, in the High-Level Committee. Council looks forward to the Report and Roadmap on the activities of the High-Level Committee to be submitted to the forthcoming AU Summit;
9. Requests the Commission, pursuant to the decision of the High-Level Committee, to finalize the necessary modalities for the convening of a meeting of Libyan stakeholders, to address the issue of national reconciliation, in accordance with the Kigali Assembly decision of July 2016, and calls upon all Libyan stakeholders to fully cooperate for the success of this initiative;
10. Agrees to meet as soon as possible to review the situation in Libya. In this respect,  Council notes the proposal put forward by the Chair of the AU High-Level Committee H.E. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, for the convening of the meeting of the High-Level Committee, at the Level of Heads of State and Government;
11. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.