JOHANNESBURG - African Union (AU) recognized the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the representative of the Libyan people, according to a statement issued by the South African presidency on Tuesday.

"The Chairperson of the African Union, after further consultations, hereby announces that the African Union recognizes the NTC as the representative of the Libyan people as they form an all-inclusive transitional government that will occupy the Libyan seat at the African Union," the statement said.

It also said the African Union stands ready to support the Libyan people, on the basis of the AU Roadmap and working together with the international community, as they rebuild their country towards a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Libya.

The AU High-Level ad hoc Committee on Libya met at the level of Heads of State and Government in Pretoria on September 14 and continued to call on Libya to establish all inclusive government and pledged to take efforts on it.

The Chairperson of the AU Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea, received a briefing from the Ad Hoc Committee of the AU Peace and Security Council regarding the developments in Libya, on the eve of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.  

"The briefing was based on the outcomes of the meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council held in Addis Ababa on August 26 and the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Libya held on September 14 in Pretoria," the statement said.

AU said the decision is based on the background that the leadership of NTC provided assurances stressing their commitment to the African continent; to give priority to national unity and to bring together all Libyan stakeholders, without any exception, to rebuild the country; and to protect all foreign workers within Libya, including the African migrant workers.  

AU believed these commitments were in line with the provisions of the AU Roadmap.