Osama Hamad, the Parliament-designated Prime Minister met with the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar on Sunday.
The two sides discussed the latest political and national developments, during a meeting in Benghazi.
The meeting comes amid efforts to unite the country, and establish stability after years of conflict. It is a positive step towards achieving stability and unity in the country. Discussions between the two are expected to lead to further cooperation and collaboration towards the common goal of building a stable and prosperous Libya.
Notably, Haftar has spoken out against the widespread corruption in Libya. He called for immediate action to be taken against those responsible.
In a statement, Haftar expressed his concern about “the increasing poverty in Libya, while the public funds are being looted.”
Haftar stated that the reports from the accounting and oversight bodies “reveal shocking levels of corruption, while Libyans are becoming poorer and looting is becoming more blatant.”
He added that the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) has wasted over $10 billion on certain companies, while the southern region, which produces oil, has only received 2% and 6% of this $10 billion.
Haftar emphasized the need for “a high-level committee to address the country’s financial arrangements,” and gave them until the end of August to complete their work.
He warned that “if the committee fails to do so, the Libyan people will be forced to demand their legitimate rights from the country’s oil wealth.”
Haftar also criticized some foreign ambassadors, particularly that of Norway, for their interference in Libyan affairs, which has only deepened the divisions among the Libyan people. He called on these ambassadors to “respect the Libyan people’s wishes, and to stop meddling in the country’s internal affairs.”
“The Libyan National Army is prepared to carry out its duties, and the Libyan people will have the opportunity to express their will in the upcoming elections, even if it takes some time,” he said.
The call for action comes at a time when the country is struggling with political instability, and economic challenges. The Libyan people have been suffering from the effects of the ongoing conflict and the mismanagement of the country’s resources.
Libya has been in a state of ongoing political instability and conflict since the overthrow and death of its long-time ruler, Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The nation has seen a rise of different factions vying for control, leading to civil unrest and violence.
Efforts have been made by the international community to mediate peace, and bring about political stability in Libya. One major component of these efforts has been the push for elections that can bring about a democratically elected government.