UN urges withdrawal of armed forces from Libyan Capital

Despite the recent resignation of its Libya envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, who conceded that “there is no room for a solution” in the country’s protracted conflict, the United Nations is now urging armed groups on the ground to heed its advice.

Amid growing reports of military mobilisation in and around Tripoli, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has called for an immediate de-escalation across the city. The UNSMIL has warned that any further escalation risks further armed clashes, especially in the densely populated areas, reported the Libya Review.

On July 9th, the UNSMIL issued a statement, reiterating to all parties the importance of refraining from the use of force or further inflaming the fragile security situation. The UNSMIL further stressed that the protection of civilians and their property is paramount, cautioning that any violations against them would lead to accountability under international law.

UNSMIL went on to reference the May 17th UN Security Council statement urging both security and political entities in Libya to uphold their legal responsibility to protect civilians. UNSMIL continued that they would engage with all concerned parties to support de-escalation efforts and contain tensions.

The mission has also called for the Ceasefire Monitoring and Security Arrangements Committees to implement urgent security arrangements. As well as expressing support for both committees, UNSMIL have implored the immediate withdrawal of all recently deployed forces in Tripoli. 

The mission issued the following statement, pushing the involved parties towards more diplomatic approaches, “The only path to lasting peace and stability in Tripoli and across Libya is dialogue, not violence,”

Growing feat over potential conflicts in the capital have drawn this statement, with multiple cases of violence between armed rival factions over the past few years, and the mission extending each time. The warnings by UNSMIL shine the spotlight on the international communities concern surrounding Libya’s tenuous security situation and the importance of restraint across the board.

Libya Review, Maghrebi.org