The UN chief is “following closely” the latest political crisis unfolding in Libya, which threatens to return the country to a stand-off position between two rival authorities, following the failure to hold presidential elections in December.
Following a decade of political instability and conflict, Libyans are on the path to peace and the international community “needs to do its part”, which includes respecting an arms embargo, the top UN official there has said, in an exclusive interview with our UN News Arabic team.
Stephanie Williams, Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General, commended the first round of political talks between the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army, held last week in Tunisia.
Delegations from Libya’s warring sides meeting in Egypt have concluded two days of security and military talks in efforts towards a lasting ceasefire, the UN political mission for the country, UNSMIL, has reported.
The UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has condemned several recent attacks on civilian areas of the Libyan Capital, Tripoli, which have reportedly caused deaths and injuries.
Warring parties in Libya, as well as foreign governments supporting them, are being urged to investigate deadly airstrikes last July which killed at least 53 migrants and refugees at a detention centre in the northwest of the country.
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Predicting that the “days ahead will prove foundational to the years ahead for Libyans and the region”, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday, that it was no exaggeration to describe the oil-rich nation as having reached “a crucial juncture”.
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has strongly condemned Monday’s attack on the National Oil Company (NOC) headquarters in Tripoli.
It is important to look at migration in Libya “not just as an internal problem, but as a regional issue.”
That’s according to Maria do Valle Ribeiro, deputy head of the UN mission in the country, UNSMIL.