Various international parties have called for preserving Libya’s stability and unity and refraining from violence, amid differences and sharp polarization in the country’s political scene, after the House of Representatives formed a new government headed by Fathi Bashagha.
The five countries, 2 + 3, expressed their concern over recent reports of violence, threats, intimidation and kidnappings, stressing that any dispute over the future of the political process in Libya must be resolved without resorting to such steps, and expressed their willingness to hold those who impede stability accountable.
The statement also threatened individuals and entities within Libya or abroad who obstruct or undermine the completion of the political transition by being placed on the sanctions list by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, expressed his concern about the sharp political polarization in Libya, stressing the importance of an urgent dialogue to break the current impasse, and stressing the need for all actors to abide by calm, while emphasizing the United Nations’ categorical rejection of the use of violence, intimidation and hate speech, once again, his full support for the mediation efforts carried out by his Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, who in turn confirmed her support for the Libyans in renewing the legitimacy of institutions through the ballot box, to change the current unacceptable reality in Libya.
The UN advisor, Williams, said that she launched an initiative to activate and consolidate the consensus that occurred between the House of Representatives and the state through the two road map committees, in order to support the Libyans in their quest to end the specter of division, build real consensus, and prepare a constitutional base that would enable elections in shortest time.
In its statement, the European Union stressed the need to achieve the aspirations of the Libyans through credible, transparent and inclusive elections, urging all parties to resume the political process led and owned by the Libyans, under the auspices of the United Nations.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, considered that the current political scene in Libya threatens to return the country to the difficult stage, which it witnessed before the signing of the ceasefire agreement in October of the year 2020.
Aboul Gheit called on all Libyan actors to work seriously and responsibly to create the necessary security, political and legal conditions for holding the elections at the earliest possible opportunity. To achieve the desire of the Libyan voters, stressing the importance of working to establish a political process that puts the country on the path of stability and construction, pointing to the League’s constant readiness to support any serious Libyan effort that secures consensus on a clear, practical and scheduled political roadmap with specific deadlines.
