On Wednesday, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio called on Libya’s rival parties to reach a consensus on holding the upcoming elections.
These remarks came after the Tobruk-based Libyan Parliament withdrew confidence yesterday from the Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba.
The FM on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York said that “the Libyan elections are becoming increasingly important to avoid dragging the North African country into a new wave of violence and instability.”
The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs also called for the departure of foreign forces and mercenaries. According to the UN, over 20,000 remained on Libyan soil in December 2020, including several hundred Turkish soldiers.
On Tuesday, the Libyan Parliament voted to withdraw confidence from the GNU with 89 votes out of the 113 deputies attending the special session.
Prime Minister Dbaiba was elected in March 2021, by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF). His GNU was tasked with leading the country to elections set for 24 December 2021.
Last month, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar received Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio and his accompanying delegation in Al-Rajmah.
According to the Military Information Division of the LNA General Command, Haftar and Di Maio discussed bilateral relations, and the latest political developments in Libya.
The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs also met the Head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Mnifi, During the meeting, Al-Mnifi “highlighted the importance of outlining a legal framework for the elections as soon as possible, and the need for the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of the State (HCS) to reach a consensus on holding the upcoming elections as scheduled,” according to a statement issued by the Presidential Council’s media office. He also stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral relations between Libya and Italy, especially in the fields of investment and trade.