By Ebi Kesiena
The African Union on Thursday voiced great concern about the escalating deadly fighting in Libya this week, calling for an immediate end to hostilities and for the pursuit of reconciliation efforts.
According to Libyan media reports, fifty-five people have been killed and 146 wounded in the worst clashes in the capital Tripoli all through the year but escalated earlier this week.
AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat in a statement noted that the AU is following with great concern the developments of the security situation in Tripoli, which have resulted in the loss of many lives and many more wounded.
Faki stated that “it urges all stakeholders and all military, political and social actors to put an immediate end to all hostilities… (and) reminds all stakeholders of the imperative need to pursue ongoing efforts towards national reconciliation,” it said.
He also warned that there was “no military solution to the Libyan crisis and that Libya’s unity, peace, stability and historic international status can only be regained by peaceful means”.
This week’s different cases of fighting sparked up by two of the myriad militias that have vied for power since the NATO-backed revolt that collapsed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
