On Saturday, the Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, voiced his concern over increasing foreign interference in Libya.
In press statements, Ould Cheikh stressed the need to reach a political solution, noting that it is the only way out of the current crisis in Libya.
The Mauritanian top diplomat also called for a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire, based on the outcomes of the Skhirat Agreement and the Berlin Conference.
He also expressed his rejection of any military solutions that will negatively affect the lives of the Libyan people.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recently warned that there are “unprecedented levels” of foreign interference and mercenaries in the oil-producing North African country.
“Escalation will only deepen and prolong the conflict,” the US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said. “It is clear there is no ‘winning’ side. Libyans can only win if they come together to reclaim their sovereignty and rebuild a unified country”, he added.
Libya has been mired in chaos since the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, with rival political and armed groups battling for control.
It also has been split since 2014 between two rival administrations: the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, in the east, and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in the west.
The GNA signed security and maritime agreements with Turkey last year, and Ankara’s military support has included drones that helped the GNA retake Libya’s northwest.