European Union Urges Libyan Leaders to ‘End Transitional Phase’

Continued security reinforcements in Tripoli in order to ensure security and avoid the return of clashes (EPA)
Continued security reinforcements in Tripoli in order to ensure security and avoid the return of clashes (EPA)
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European Union Urges Libyan Leaders to ‘End Transitional Phase’

Continued security reinforcements in Tripoli in order to ensure security and avoid the return of clashes (EPA)
Continued security reinforcements in Tripoli in order to ensure security and avoid the return of clashes (EPA)

The European Union urged Libya’s leaders on Thursday to end the “transitional phase” and overcome the country’s crisis.

Meanwhile, tribal leaders, during a meeting held in the city of Misurata, rejected the proposal to form a new government, and demanded that parliamentary elections be held first.

Jose Sabadell, the EU ambassador to Libya emphasized the European strategy towards resolving the Libyan crisis.

Sabadell met with Libyan leaders, prior to the end of his tenure in the country.

“I had the privilege to be received yesterday by the Prime Minister to say goodbye as EU Ambassador to Libya. I was very fortunate to attend the ceremony of his swearing in at the House of Representatives in Tobruk in March 2021,” he wrote on X social platform, previously Twitter.

He added: “The difficult regional situation makes it even more urgent to reinforce stability by consolidating positive trends, avoiding returns to the past, and ending the transitional period through elections.”

He also underlined the EU’s continued readiness to support Libya, pointing to the need to increase cooperation with the country, especially in the issue of irregular migration.

Sabadell met with Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibeh, head of the interim National Unity government on Thursday. He also held talks with Mohammad al-Menfi, Chairman of the Presidential Council, on Wednesday evening.

During his meeting with Abdullah Al-Lafi, a deputy in the Presidential Council, Sabadell called for a “historic settlement” regarding the future of Libya, as the “only path” for a comprehensive solution to the current crisis.

He added that national reconciliation was the only means to reach a solution in the country.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.