German Ambassador to Libya, Michael Ohnmacht, emphasised the necessity of establishing a unified government that controls the entire Libyan territory to end the current crisis.
According to Ohnmacht’s televised statements, there’s no alternative to elections for Libya’s stability. He urged international actors to examine the reasons behind the failure of the December 2021 elections, highlighting the importance of fair wealth distribution across all cities and regions.
Ohnmacht clarified that achieving the National Oil Corporation’s goal of producing 3 million barrels of oil per day is impossible without political stability. He stressed that elections are crucial for Libya’s stability, requiring both international and Libyan efforts.
The German ambassador added that if there’s a desire in Libya to hold elections, no international party can prevent them. He emphasised that freezing the situation in Libya is not a solution, noting that the international community does not want this situation to continue.
He clarified that a solution in Libya is possible and beneficial for all parties, whether Libyan, neighboring countries, or active countries in Libya.
Last month, the former UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily resigned from his position, citing significant challenges in pushing forward the political process due to the self-serving interests of Libya’s leaders.
Bathily submitted his resignation to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expressing his concerns over the inability of the United Nations to effectively support Libya’s political journey amidst such leadership challenges.
Appointed in September 2022, Bathily has publicly criticized key Libyan leaders for their deliberate efforts to thwart international peace initiatives and their continuous stalling of the electoral process. He pointed out that Libya has turned into a hotbed of intense rivalry among regional and international actors competing for control over the country’s strategic resources, making a peaceful solution increasingly elusive.
During a Security Council session addressing the situation in Libya, Bathily expressed his frustrations over the failure to resolve disputes related to electoral laws and the formation of a unified government with Libya’s five principal stakeholders.
His attempts were met with consistent resistance characterized by “stubborn opposition, unreasonable expectations, and a disregard for the welfare of the Libyan people.”
