SOURCE:

Faculty: Social Sciences
Department: Political Science

CONTRIBUTORS:

Agbaenyi, A. N.
Oddih, M. C.

ABSTRACT:

African Union’s inability to resolve crises in Africa extended to the Libyan Crisis which was one of such conflicts that militated against peace and security of the continent. The general objective of the study was to appraise AU’s responses to the Libyan Crisis. Specifically, the study was designed to investigate major causes and consequences of the Libyan Crisis, interrogate AU’s responses to the crisis and determine specific factors that undermined her efforts. The study utilised historical research design and purposive sampling technique of non-probability category. It widely sourced published works, mainly books, journals, official documents, and internet materials. Such secondary data were aided by individual interviews with officials of AU’s Peace and Security Council, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia and Gaddafi documentary interview. The study is a qualitative research. It analysed its data thematically. Such data were presented in textual, tabular, chart, map and pictorial forms. Realist and conflict theories were adopted as theoretical frameworks. Findings showed that the Libyan Crisis was fundamentally caused by unaccepted internal economic and political conditions in Libya and Gaddafi-West’s power game; western instigation and support of the Libyan rebel group, the NTC and Arab Spring. African Union’s responses to the crisis were though unsuccessful, yet, her roadmap on the Libyan Crisis remains a workable option for Libya. AU responses were incapacitated by lack of funds, donor disappointment and AU’s leadership ineptitude. AU is still challenged by Post-Gaddafi Crisis in Libya orchestrated by the fractionalisation of anti and pro Gaddafi armed groups and interferences of prominent members of NATO in the United Nation’s conflict resolution process.