Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, held talks on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad, Chief of General Staff of the Libyan Army.
The two officials discussed the current developments in the country and ways to unify the military, which is divided between the west and east of Libya.
“Tetteh and Al-Haddad emphasized that the unification of the military should remain a priority for authorities across Libya, as the security and stability of the country are crucial for any political process to move forward,” UNSMIL said in a statement.
They also explored how the UN Mission can effectively support Libya's efforts towards unifying military institutions, enhancing border security, and addressing other key areas of national security, it added.
In Tripoli, Tetteh also met with Acting Libyan Interior Minister, Imad Trabelsi.
The two sides exchanged views on the current situation and on how the Mission can support Libyan efforts in enhancing security provision, de-escalating tensions, and promoting dialogue between authorities and communities.
They also discussed the Ministry’s key role in election security and in contributing to a safe environment conducive to an effective political process.
Later, Tetteh and Secretary-General Deputy Special Representative, Stephanie Koury, met with the Libyan Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, Houria Al-Tormal, to discuss the importance of women’s inclusion in the political process and their role in decision-making.
Tetteh reaffirmed UNSMIL’s commitment to supporting the Libyan government’s efforts to promote women’s empowerment programs and ensure their meaningful participation in achieving sustainable development and stability in Libya.
Separately, Director General of the Development and Reconstruction Fund of Libya, Belqasim Haftar, met in Rome, with Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, to discuss ways to develop joint cooperation between the two sides in the fields of development and reconstruction. Talks focused mainly on the sectors of health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, transportation and air freight and on resuming flights between Libya and Italy.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the Government of National Stability, Osama Hammad, issued on Thursday a directive prohibiting all ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of public institutions from sharing or disseminating any news related to public affairs without prior approval from the Communications and Media Department at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The decision came after the controversy caused when Libya’s Justice Minister issued a statement on his social media account, affirming the release of Hannibal Gaddafi.
Hannibal, the son of the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, has been detained for years in Lebanon.
The Prime Minister stressed that ministry-affiliated media outlets should strictly focus on covering the daily activities of their respective ministries while ensuring continuous oversight from the PM’s Office to maintain accuracy and prevent the spread of misinformation.
