MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr. Bernard Membe yesterday summoned Libyan Ambassador to Tanzania, Prof Ahmed El Ash’ab, for raising the rebel National Transition Council (NTC) flag without prior consultations.
The envoy was seen at the Foreign Ministry’s office with minister Membe, indicating that the minister had fulfilled his promise he made before journalists on Sunday that he would summon the ambassador to explain why he had raised the flag of a rebel government without notifying his hosts.
No details were available yesterday over the meeting between the envoy and the minister.
The minister said on Sunday that he was aware that the embassy had raised the flag of the Libyan rebels.
“It’s wrong. There are rules and regulations to follow for the government to recognise the existing government. They have not followed them,” said Membe.
The minister also said that Tanzania would not recognise the Libyan transitional government formed by the rebels until its true architects were known and the government was satisfied that ordinary Libyans were fully involved in its formation.
“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,” Membe maintained.
He said out of 54 African states only 14 have recognised the transitional government.
“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 stressed.
Membe said Tanzania would 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 would prepare for elections.
Some of the countries that have already recognised 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 had agreed that Gaddafi’s leadership in Libya had come to an end, and that what was urgently needed was to ensure that the country returned to normality as soon as possible.
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