UN envoy Bernardino Leon yesterday proposed a Libyan unity government aimed at ending years of conflict, but the plan was quickly dismissed by members of the nation’s two rival parliaments.
Libya has had two administrations since August last year when a militia alliance overran the capital, forcing the internationally recognized government to take refuge in the eastern port of Tobruk.
The nation descended into chaos after the fall of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, with the two sides vying for power, as well as several groups battling for control of its vast resources.
“After a year of work on this process, after working with more than 150 Libyan personalities from all the regions, finally the moment has come in which we can propose a national unity government,” Leon told a news conference in Morocco.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the news and appealed to the rival camps to sign the accord.
“The secretary-general welcomes today’s proposal of nominees for the presidency council of the Libyan government of national accord,” a UN statement said. “He commends the dialogue participants on having reached a final text of a political agreement after comprehensive and broad consultations.”
Ban urged Libya’s leaders “not to squander this opportunity to put the country back on the path to building a state that reflects the spirit and ambitions of the 2011 revolution.”
“Now is the time for the parties to the political dialogue to endorse this proposal and sign the agreement without delay,” he said.
Previous deals to ensure a ceasefire and restore stability to the strife-torn nation have fallen apart and officials from both sides expressed skepticism after the announcement.
Abdulsalam Bilashahir, of the Tripoli-based General National Congress, told the BBC: “We are not a part of this [proposed] government. It means nothing to us and we were not consulted.”
Ibrahim Alzaghiat, from the internationally recognized House of Representatives based in Tobruk, was also quoted as saying: “This proposed government will lead to the division of Libya and will turn it into a joke. Mr Leon’s choice was unwise.”
However, Leon said the new government, which will include three deputy prime ministers — one each from the west, east and south of the nation — would survive.
“Far too many Libyans have lost their lives and so many mothers have suffered. Today, nearly 2.4 million Libyans need humanitarian aid,” Leon said. “We believe [this government] can succeed. The Libyans must seize this historic opportunity to save Libya.”
Years of chaos in Libya has turned it into a hub for human-trafficking gangs, which have fueled Europe’s huge refugee crisis by sending thousands of people on the perilous journey across the Mediterranean.
More than 3,000 people have died or are feared drowned after trying to make the crossing since the start of this year, according to the UN refugee agency. On Thursday, Libyan authorities said they had arrested about 300 people as they were preparing to board boats.
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