Libya: a lost opportunity for the African Union

This research paper analyzes the marginalization of the African Union (AU) during the 2011 Libyan crisis, arguing that the organization lost a critical opportunity to lead the peace process due to a lack of diplomatic escalation, insufficient political will, and the prioritization of Western and Arab League interests under UN Resolution 1973.

• The African Union (AU) was marginalized during the Libyan crisis because its March 10 road map failed to gain genuine support from both sides of the conflict, and the organization failed to escalate its diplomatic engagement with Nato, the Arab League, and key nations including France, the UK, the US, Turkey, and Qatar after the passage of UN Resolution 1973.
• UN Resolution 1973 provided legitimacy for Nato's intervention by emphasizing the role of the Arab League in regional peace and security while making only "scant reference" to the AU and omitting the AU from the authorization of measures to enforce flight bans.
• European powers were unlikely to grant the AU political initiative in Libya due to the country's proximity to the EU and the use of Libyan shores by African migrants to enter Europe, a situation worsened by the Arab Spring and subsequent anti-migration sentiment in Europe.
• The AU's effectiveness is hindered by a lack of political will and means to challenge recalcitrant leaders who violate human rights, often hesitating to condemn African leaders who use violence against internal opposition to avoid escalation.
• To avoid further irrelevance in post-Gaddafi Libya, the author suggests the AU should recognize the Transitional National Council (TNC), integrate its high-level ad hoc committee into existing processes like the Libya Contact Group, and work with Brazil and India at the Security Council to restore the UN's central role.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2011). Libya: a lost opportunity for the African Union. https://saiia.org.za/research/libya-a-lost-opportunity-for-the-african-union/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Libya: a lost opportunity for the African Union. 2011. https://saiia.org.za/research/libya-a-lost-opportunity-for-the-african-union/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Libya: a lost opportunity for the African Union |date=31 August 2011 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/libya-a-lost-opportunity-for-the-african-union/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2011libya, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Libya: a lost opportunity for the African Union}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2011}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/libya-a-lost-opportunity-for-the-african-union/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }