Tripoli: Europe and the Arabs
Amidst repeated reports of continued military buildup in and around the capital, Tripoli, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) urged all parties to refrain from the use of force, particularly in densely populated areas, and to avoid any political actions or rhetoric that could lead to escalation or spark new clashes. According to the UN daily news bulletin, which added, "In a statement, the mission reminded all political and security parties of their obligations under international law to protect the lives and property of civilians, and stressed that those who commit attacks against civilians will be held accountable.
The mission explained that it is continuing its efforts to calm the situation, calling on all parties to engage in good faith in this process. It also urged the urgent implementation of the security arrangements established by the Truce and Security and Military Arrangements Commissions, which the mission continues to support.
The UNSMIL mission stressed the need for the forces recently deployed in Tripoli to withdraw without delay. It emphasized that dialogue—not violence—is the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in Tripoli and throughout Libya.
This comes after the Libyan House of Representatives and the High Council of State reached a political agreement on the formation of a unified government to oversee the organization of elections and move the country from the transitional marathon towards determining the country's final status. According to the Emirati Al Bayan website, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, and the President of the State Council, Khaled Al-Mishri stressed the need to develop a clear roadmap aimed at forming a unified government that will prepare the appropriate conditions for holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections.
The State Council's media office stated that the meeting between Saleh and Al-Mishri in the city of Al-Qubbah addressed the latest political developments in the country and the challenges facing the constitutional and executive process, with a shared emphasis on the importance of unifying efforts and ending institutional divisions as a key prerequisite for the success of the electoral process.
According to the media center affiliated with the House of Representatives, the meeting addressed the latest political developments in the country and discussed the practical steps necessary to adopt a clear roadmap for selecting a new unified government, whose primary mission will be to pave the way for the simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections.
The meeting comes at a time of increasing local and international calls to accelerate practical steps toward organizing the elections, amid the ongoing political stalemate and multiple initiatives without reaching a final consensus.
The meeting also came days after the conflict over the presidency of the State Council was resolved in favor of Khaled Al-Mishri over his rival, Mohamed Takala, after 10 months of bickering between the two parties.
The House of Representatives defined the tasks of the next government as a number of key objectives, most notably providing a safe environment for the elections. Extending state authority over all Libyan territory, providing administrative and financial support to the High National Elections Commission, and adhering to the legislative and political frameworks of the transitional period, while preserving public funds and avoiding long-term international commitments.
According to the parliamentary proposal, the transitional government's term is set at 24 months, with preparations for elections to begin eight months before the end of this period. Aguila Saleh sent an official letter to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), calling for support for the parliament's efforts to form a new government in coordination with the State Council. He requested the dispatch of a UN envoy to attend the screening of candidate files. The Council confirmed that this step has the support of the UNSMIL Advisory Committee.
Meanwhile, the government emerging from the Libyan House of Representatives announced the expulsion of the interior ministers of Italy, Greece, and Malta, as well as the European Union Commissioner for Migration, upon their arrival at Benina Airport for violating the law.
The government said in a statement that the actions of those concerned constitute a blatant violation of diplomatic norms and international conventions and a disrespect for Libyan national sovereignty. It added that those concerned violated Libyan laws and did not follow the procedures regulating entry, movement, and residence. Foreign diplomats.