On Thursday, the British Embassy in Libya strongly affirmed its support for ongoing efforts to de-escalate rising tensions and foster a political resolution to the country’s deepening crisis.
This came during a recent meeting with Stephanie Khoury, the Acting Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), where the latest political and economic developments in Libya were discussed.
In a statement, the British Embassy expressed grave concern over the current state of affairs in Libya, noting that the ongoing instability threatens both the country’s stability and the well-being of the Libyan people.
“As the UN Security Council’s penholder on Libya, the British Embassy hosted a meeting today with ambassadors and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Stephanie Khoury to reaffirm international support for efforts to de-escalate tensions and encourage a political solution to the crisis,” the embassy declared.
Khoury has been at the forefront of diplomatic efforts to address the escalating crisis surrounding the Central Bank of Libya (CBL). Over the past week, she has held key discussions with Libyan figures, including Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA); Ageela Saleh, Speaker of the Libyan Parliament; and Mohamed al-Mnifi, head of the Presidential Council.
These talks have centered on the controversial decisions by the Presidential Council to replace the leadership of the Central Bank, a move that has intensified the already high tensions in the country. Khouri is working to mediate between the opposing factions to prevent further escalation.
UNSMIL has responded to the growing crisis by announcing plans to convene an emergency meeting with all relevant parties to reach a consensus on the Central Bank issue. The mission has called for four urgent measures to halt the current escalation and stabilize the situation.
The dispute over the Central Bank’s leadership is symptomatic of the broader power struggles that have plagued Libya since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Control of the Central Bank, which manages the country’s substantial oil revenues, is seen as crucial by any faction seeking to assert power in Libya.
