The leader of conflict-wracked Libya’s proposed new government is trying hard to make the new deal work. Businessman Fayez el-Sarraj was named the head of a 17-member transitional Libyan government which is scheduled to take office in mid-January under an agreement signed by some members of the country’s two rival parliaments on December 17, which was subsequently endorsed by the UN Security Council. Sarraj yesterday visited Italy to seek its support for the new government. The success of the new government in Libya is crucial for the stability of Europe due to the geographical closeness of this Arab country to European continent. Especially the migrants crisis Europe is afflicted with has been complicated by the civil war in Libya, whose borders have become porous and unguarded making it easy for asylum seekers to flee to Europe.
Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi reiterated his country’s willingness to lead an international peace and reconstruction force which could be deployed in Libya with UN support once a ceasefire and some degree of political stability have been established. Major world powers need to make the same commitment if Libya is not descend again into chaos and instability. Keeping the conflict unresolved will only lead to the spread of terrorism in the region and the whole world.
Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 uprising that overthrew dictator Moamer Gaddafi,after armed militias took control of various regions and fought for more territory and control of it’s the country’s vast oil wealth. The weapons of Gaddafi fell in the hands of these militias, and the government in Tripoli was too weak to control the rebels.
Europe and the international community will have to offer every support to the new government in Tripoli to make this political agreement work. This is especially because there are doubts about the future of the agreement. Some experts are pessimistic about the future of the proposed new government system with elements of both an Islamist-backed assembly in the capital Tripoli and an internationally recognised assembly in eastern Tobruk having voiced their opposition.
The most important challenge facing the new government will be the disarming or dismantling of the militias or integrating them into the military-security establishments. The government must have the necessary authority and military strength to defeat the militias – using force if necessary.
The United Nations must exert more efforts to bring peace and stability to Libya. The growth of Islamic State is posing a huge threat to Libya and the region. The economy is in tatters, and the country badly needs aid to restore its institutions and make them functional. There is no alternative to the current political deal. The consequences of its failure will be too huge for the country to bear.
The leader of conflict-wracked Libya’s proposed new government is trying hard to make the new deal work. Businessman Fayez el-Sarraj was named the head of a 17-member transitional Libyan government which is scheduled to take office in mid-January under an agreement signed by some members of the country’s two rival parliaments on December 17, which was subsequently endorsed by the UN Security Council. Sarraj yesterday visited Italy to seek its support for the new government. The success of the new government in Libya is crucial for the stability of Europe due to the geographical closeness of this Arab country to European continent. Especially the migrants crisis Europe is afflicted with has been complicated by the civil war in Libya, whose borders have become porous and unguarded making it easy for asylum seekers to flee to Europe.
Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi reiterated his country’s willingness to lead an international peace and reconstruction force which could be deployed in Libya with UN support once a ceasefire and some degree of political stability have been established. Major world powers need to make the same commitment if Libya is not descend again into chaos and instability. Keeping the conflict unresolved will only lead to the spread of terrorism in the region and the whole world.
Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 uprising that overthrew dictator Moamer Gaddafi,after armed militias took control of various regions and fought for more territory and control of it’s the country’s vast oil wealth. The weapons of Gaddafi fell in the hands of these militias, and the government in Tripoli was too weak to control the rebels.
Europe and the international community will have to offer every support to the new government in Tripoli to make this political agreement work. This is especially because there are doubts about the future of the agreement. Some experts are pessimistic about the future of the proposed new government system with elements of both an Islamist-backed assembly in the capital Tripoli and an internationally recognised assembly in eastern Tobruk having voiced their opposition.
The most important challenge facing the new government will be the disarming or dismantling of the militias or integrating them into the military-security establishments. The government must have the necessary authority and military strength to defeat the militias – using force if necessary.
The United Nations must exert more efforts to bring peace and stability to Libya. The growth of Islamic State is posing a huge threat to Libya and the region. The economy is in tatters, and the country badly needs aid to restore its institutions and make them functional. There is no alternative to the current political deal. The consequences of its failure will be too huge for the country to bear.
