The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said after his visit to Libya several times in the past two years that little progress has been made recently towards peace.
Borrell stressed that political divisions are making the situation exacerbated by the absence of state authority in large parts of the country.
In this context, he explained that violence can still erupt at any time and escalate rapidly, and that none of the actors can achieve victory alone, but each one can provoke the others in a direct confrontation.
Difficult road to elections
Regarding Libyan elections, Borrell stressed that the path is fraught with all kinds of difficulties and opposition.
He stated that huge efforts are needed both locally and internationally to ensure that it is done in a free, fair and credible manner, and that everyone will accept the results, saying it will be primarily up to the Libyan leaders themselves to rise to the challenge for their country.
He added that Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dabaiba, who has been in office since March of this year, is responsible for ensuring the success of the political process in this very complex environment, with the additional challenges of operating without control over the majority of the country, and without a budget.
Reconstruction
According to Borrell; reconstruction of Libya will require investments of about one hundred billion US dollars, and the country has significant resources coming from oil exports, currently amounting to 1.2 million barrels per day, in addition to a sovereign fund of more than 60 billion US dollars.
A recent study by ESCWA estimates that the total gains for the region from peace in Libya will amount to more than $160 billion during the period 2021-2025. Unemployment will decrease by about 6% in Tunisia, 9% in Egypt and 14% in Sudan.
