On Monday, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily met with Germany’s Special Envoy to Libya, Christian Buck. The meeting, which was held in Tripoli, was also attended by the German Ambassador to Libya, Michael Ohnmacht.
Buck affirmed his unwavering support for the UN envoy’s efforts to “bring back peace and prosperity to Libya,” noting that “this is what the Berlin Process is all about.”
He also stressed the importance of completing the constitutional basis, and holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections as soon as possible.
Buck indicated that Germany believes elections are the only way to solve the prolonged crisis in Libya, reiterating Berlin’s rejection of instability and unilateral actions in the country.
Notably, Germany hosted on September 8-9 a global conference on Libya, in order to discuss the current stalemate in politics, with the participation of representatives of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Turkey, and Egypt. “Together with our partners, we remain committed to continuing these efforts,” the German Foreign Office said.
Libya is again politically torn between two rival governments, in the east and west. The Libyan Parliament-designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, and incumbent PM Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, as the latter refuses to relinquish power until elections.
The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December and the refusal of Dbaiba, who is leading the transitional government, to step down. Tensions have been rising for months in Libya as the two leaders vie for power; raising fears of renewed conflict two years after a landmark truce.
The UN has been pushing the rival parties to hold elections, in order to resolve the legitimacy crisis.
