No to recognition until it is clear who are running the government
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Bernard Membe
Tanzania will not recognise the Libyan transitional government formed by the rebels until it identifies its true architects and is satisfied that ordinary Libyans were fully involved in its formation.
The government stance on the troubled North African oil state, whose long-serving leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi was ousted by rebels was announced in Dar es Salaam yesterday by the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Bernard Membe.
"We in Tanzania will not recognise the transitional government led by the rebels, until we are sure of the participation of Libyans in its formation and the officials leading it," said Membe.
Currently, government of Libyan is under the nation's temporary council (TNC).
Membe said out of 54 African states only 14 have recognized the transitional government, Tanzania being one of those which have not yet recognised the government led by the rebels.
"TNC has not been able to convince Tanzania to recognise the government. We are not ready to make hasty decisions over something we hardly know," said Membe.
"We do not know who the members of the rebel movement are, how many they are and whether they are Libyans or foreigners," he added.
Membe said Tanzania will recognise the new Libyan government only if all stakeholders of the country including citizens and all political parties participate in the formation of the transitional government, which will prepare for elections.
Some of the countries that have already recognized the rebel-led Libyan transitional government are Kenya, Rwanda, Gabon, Nigeria, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Senegal, Burkinafaso and Botswana.
Membe also said Tanzania joins AU in calling on the three sides in the Libyan conflict, namely NATO, Col. Gaddafi's army and the rebels to end the fighting so as to save the lives of people in Libya and give the country a chance to form its own government.
He added that Tanzania and AU have agreed that Gaddafi's leadership in Libya has come to an end and what has to be done is to ensure that the country returns to normality as soon as possible.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN