Stephanie Williams, the Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Libya, has met with the Speaker of Libya’s Eastern-based House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, in Geneva, Switzerland as they discussed the need to find a solution to the Lybian crisis which has spanned almost a decade.
The officials, according to a statement issued by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), also welcomed the National Oil Corporation’s announcement of lifting the force majeure on oil exports after nearly 6 months of suspension.
The statement said:
Acting SRSG Stephanie Williams met today in Geneva with HoR Speaker Aguila Saleh, to discuss, among others, the revival of political dialogue, Speaker Saleh’s initiative, and the need to intensify efforts to find an inclusive political solution to the Libyan crisis.
The statement added:
Acting SRSG Williams welcomed Speaker Saleh’s support to an immediate and lasting ceasefire, especially in the city of Sirte.
Meanwhile, Williams and Saleh stressed the necessity to avoid any obstacles in oil flow “as it belongs to all Libyans; and urged that revenues expenditures be managed in a transparent and professional manner.
The two officials called on foreign actors to stop their negative interference in Libya, facilitate and support the political process in order to prevent a new humanitarian and economic catastrophe in Sirte and the Oil Crescent.
In the meantime, the Libyan crisis marked the beginning of the Arab Spring protests of 2011, which led to a civil war, foreign military intervention, and the ousting and death of former leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
The civil war’s aftermath and proliferation of armed groups led to violence and instability across the country, which erupted into renewed civil war in 2014.
The ongoing crisis in Libya has so far resulted in tens of thousands of casualties since the onset of violence in early 2011.
