The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union appoints a Special Representative for Libya

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 1, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, has appointed Mr. Mondher Rezgui as Special Representative and Head of the AU Liaison Office in Libya, with residence in Tripoli.

Mr. Rezgui is at present Minister Counsellor in the office of the President of the Republic of

Tunisia. He has previously occupied the post of Director of Cabinet in the Office of the

President with the rank of Minister. Between 1989 and 2011, he occupied different posts in

the Parliament, including Chargé de Mission in the office of the Speaker of the Parliament

and Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Research and Studies. Mr. Rezgui is specialised

in political science.

It should be recalled that the opening of a Liaison office in Tripoli was authorized by the AU

Peace and Security Council (PSC) at its 297th meeting held on 20 October 2011. In conformity with all the decisions of the relevant organs of the African Union, the mandate of the Office is to support the efforts to stabilise the situation, promote national reconciliation and facilitate the transitional process towards democratic institutions, in cooperation with the

United Nations and the other international partners.

On 17 January 2012, the Chairperson of the Commission visited Libya to consult with the

Libyan authorities, and an important delegation of the Government of Libya participated in

the sessions of the Executive Council and of the Assembly of the African Union, which have

just taken place in Addis Ababa.