On Monday, the United States said it was deeply concerned by renewed threats of violent confrontation in Tripoli, and called for immediate de-escalation by all sides. “The vast majority of Libyans seek to choose their leadership peacefully, through elections.”
In a statement, the US Department of State said: “We call on those who risk once again being dragged into violence to put down their arms and in particular urge Libya’s leaders to recommit themselves without delay, to identifying a constitutional basis for Presidential and Parliamentary elections.”
It added that the ongoing instability is a reminder of the urgent need for the appointment of a new UN Envoy to Libya to resume mediation efforts, with unified support from the international community.
“The United States will amplify calls for calm and recommitment to elections during the August 30 UN Security Council briefing and consultations on Libya,” the statement said.
Notably, Member of the Libyan High Council of State (HCS), Saad Bin Sherada claimed that the US Ambassador, Richard Norland “did not want to stabilise Libya from the beginning.”
In press statements, Bin Sherada added that “Norland was the first to stand against the intra-Libyan agreement in February, under the pretext of a lack of transparency.”
“We do not blame the American Ambassador for his negative interventions in Libya, as much as we blame ourselves because we are the ones who opened the doors to the ambassadors of foreign countries to associate with civil institutions, municipalities, and youth groups in the country,” Bin Sherada said.
He added that the “solution today is to close the ears of the Libyans to the statements of the Ambassadors of the countries interfering in Libyan affairs, which have complicated the situation since 2014.”