The National Conference will be held 14-16 April in Libya in a critical opportunity to end the prolonged transitional period since 2011, Envoy of UN Mission Suport in Libya (UNSMIL) Ghassan Salame said Wednesday.
“Ahead of the National Conference, we are working with many parties to ensure as broad a buy-in as possible to the political process. What is clear is that the Libyan people fervently desire that their institutions be united as soon as possible,” Salame referred in his remarks to the UN Security Council.
He added that if the National Conference did not succeed in unifying Libya, the country would face “only two possible options: prolonged stalemate or conflict.”
During his speech, the UNSMIL envoy commented on the situation in Libya as General Commander of Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar succeeded in ridding the southern region of armed groups and continues to expel terrorist groups in the other Libyan regions.
“It is no exaggeration to say that the situation in Libya has reached a crucial juncture. We are working to prevent recent developments and tensions on the ground from escalating,” he explained.
There have been reports that Haftar may head to Tripoli, Sarraj’s stronghold, to eliminate armed groups, especially that some Libyans in Tripoli encourages such a move in a number of demonstrations.
However, some military personalities loyal to Sarraj made it clear that this would lead to a “civil war.”
