On Friday, Italy Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio renewed his support for a “comprehensive and legitimate electoral process” in Libya. He described the country as “Italy’s top priority”, stressing the need to hold the elections on 24 December, as scheduled.
Addressing the Mediterranean Dialogues Conference, which was held earlier this month in Rome, Di Maio indicated that “the most urgent challenge for Italy in the Mediterranean region is achieving stability in Libya.”
The Italy FM also pointed to the outcomes of the Paris International Conference on Libya, which was held on 12 November. The conference called on Libyan actors to “commit constructively to a free, fair, comprehensive, and credible electoral process.”
The Italy FM noted that the conference, which was co-chaired by Italy, Libya, France, Germany, and the United Nations, also stressed “the priority of the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya.”
The final statement of the conference co-chaired by Italy, Libya, France, Germany, and the United Nations stressed the need for all concerned parties to accept the results of the elections, affirming support for a comprehensive political process in Libya. It also called for the formation of a reconciliation commission under the auspices of the Presidential Council. The participants also emphasised their full respect for Libya’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity. As well as their commitment to rejecting all foreign interference in Libyan affairs.
Libya is trying to overcome a major political crisis that has been on-going since the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011. After a decade of armed conflict and divisions between the east and west of the country, an interim government was elected earlier this year following UN-sponsored mediation efforts. The main role of the interim government is to lead the country during this transitional phase, until the December elections.