On Thursday, Head of Libya’s Presidential Council (PC), Mohamed Al-Mnifi met with German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz to discuss the latest political developments in Libya.
The meeting came on the sidelines of the Sixth European Union – African Union Summit, set for 17-18 February, at the EU headquarters in Brussels.
The German Chancellor stressed the need to “consolidate the gains made from the first and second Berlin conferences, and not to drag the country back to square one.” He also called for holding Presidential elections on a consensual constitutional basis, and meet the aspirations of the Libyan people to elect their leaders.
In turn, Al-Mnifi congratulated the German Chancellor on his new position, noting that “putting a permanent end to the crisis in Libya at all levels, will only be possible through national reconciliation.” He also affirmed the PC’s support for the country’s political roadmap, and reiterated the need to maintain the popular momentum for holding elections.
The meeting comes against an escalation of the political crisis in Libya. As the Libyan Parliament voted to replace the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba.
Accordingly, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya (SASG), Stephanie Williams highlighted the need to go forward in an “inclusive, transparent, and consensual manner,” and to maintain stability in Tripoli and throughout the country.
Williams added that the focus must continue to be on the holding of “free, fair and inclusive national elections in the shortest possible time.”
Last week, Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh announced that they had unanimously appointed Fathi Bashagha as the new Prime Minister.
“The Parliament voted unanimously to give confidence to Bashagha as head of a new government,” Parliamentary Spokesman, Abdallah Blaiheg said after the session in Tobruk last week.
But Dbaiba said in a speech that he would not hand over power until after the elections. “Only elections will end the transitional stages.”
Recently, the European Union said that it has a strong interest in “a stable, secure, united and prosperous Libya.” It added that it seeks to “assist the country and the Libyan people to return to peace and resume the transition to democracy, through diplomatic action and bilateral support.”