On Wednesday, the UAE’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Mohamed Abushahab pushed for “restraint” to help preserve “unity” in Libya. This comes as a political crisis threatens to send the country back into warfare and division.
Addressing the UN Security Council, the UAE official said that Libyan politicians should eschew “partisan interests and disputes” and instead focus on “national reconciliation,” to avoid the country spiralling back into parallel governments.
His remarks come against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Libya. The collapse of planned elections in December dented hopes of reunifying the country, after more than a decade of instability following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising.
“All concerned parties should exercise restraint and avoid taking any measures that may undermine the progress made in resolving the Libyan crisis. This would maintain the country’s unity and its national institutions away from any partisan interests and disputes,” the UAE official told the Security Council.
He also called for “concrete steps to unify the Libyan military and security institutions”, which have for years been splintered between rival factions. As well as avoiding a “security vacuum” that allows IS terrorists to regroup.
Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, the outgoing Prime Minister, has vowed to remain in office, despite the Libyan Parliament swearing in a rival government earlier this month.
The UN’s Political Chief, Rosemary DiCarlo said armed factions were mobilizing in and around Tripoli, and that the crisis could lead to instability and parallel governments.
“Libya is now facing a new phase of political polarization, which risks dividing its institutions once again and reversing the gains achieved over the past two years,” DiCarlo told diplomats.
The UN and western powers have avoided backing either Dbaiba, or his Parliament-appointed rival, Fathi Bashagha. They are instead pushing for new elections, as a way to ease tensions. It has asked political bodies to join a committee to resolve constitutional and legal questions that led to the collapse of December’s vote.
On Wednesday, UN Spokesman, Farhan Haq said he hoped the committee would begin work before the start of Ramadan, early next month.
The UAE and four other nations joined the UN Security Council for two-year terms beginning in January. They can since, take part in meetings, vote on resolutions, and share the rotating presidency of the 15-nation body.