On Sunday, the deputy prime minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Ahmed Maiteeq, held a telephone conversation with the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (ASRSG) to Libya, Stephanie Williams, during which, they discussed the auditing process of accounts of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL).
During the talks, the two officials stressed the need to stop military escalation in the city of Sirte. They also highlighted the necessity of resuming oil production and agreed to work to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement that engages the two warring parties in a comprehensive political dialogue, based on the outcomes of the Berlin conference.
Maiteeq held the Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls the oil ports, responsible for the facilities’ security and safety, as they contain highly flammable materials, as stated by the National Oil Corporation (NOC).
At the beginning of August, Williams was in London and delivered a very worrying assessment on the situation in Libya. “With so many external actors with their own agendas, the risk of miscalculation and of a regional confrontation is high,” she said.
Williams is due to leave her position in October. As of yet, there is no agreement between the EU and the US on who should replace her and the parameters of her successor’s mandate.
Williams’ departure without a named successor would only highlight the diplomatic chaos in Libya, with time running out before the situation gets completely out of hand.