On Saturday, the Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL), Ahmed Aboul Gheit, renewed his call to stop the fighting in Libya, especially the ongoing military operations around Tripoli between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of National Accord (GNA).
Aboul Gheit expressed deep regret over the fact that Libya is still embroiled in conflict since clashes broke out between the two warring parties in the western regions on April 4th 2019.
The continuation of clashes has stalled the peace effort brokered by the United Nations Special Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and left hundreds of civilians dead. The Arab League Secretary-General renewed his call to “silence the guns in Arab conflict areas” to ensure that national efforts are solely dedicated to face the dangers of the coronavirus pandemic and to limit stress on the population and the health sector.
Aboul Gheit called for a humanitarian truce in Libya and urged the country’s leaders to uphold the national interest and immediately start de-escalation on the ground. The truce, Aboul Gheit said, should eventually lead to a formal, lasting and comprehensive ceasefire in the country.
Aboul Gheit again stressed the Arab League’s rejection and condemnation of all forms of foreign military interference in Libya, as well as the multiple violations of the arms embargo imposed on the country and the deployment of foreign fighters on the battlefield.
“The Arab League will remain committed to standing by the Libyan people in overcoming the challenges of the current situation, and getting the country through the current crisis,” Aboul Gheit said.
The statement by the Arab League Secretary-General comes one day after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday that “the worst is yet to come” for countries in conflict, such as Syria, Libya and Yemen.
Guterres renewed his call for a global ceasefire to enable war-torn nations to fight the coronavirus pandemic.