Brussels, 24/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 February, the UN special envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler, called on the Libyan political parties for an agreement on a government of national unity, underlining that as they beat about the bush, ISIL was gaining ground.
“The political process must speed up so as not to give a chance to ISIL and the people traffickers to spread further”, Kobler said during a hearing at the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee. “ISIL does not discuss the commas of an agreement, it just takes territory”, he added. According to Libyan parliamentarians, the session at which the Libyan Parliament was due to decide whether to give its consent for a government of national unity, initially planned for 23 February, has again been delayed by a week.
Kobler wanted the government to be based in the capital, Tripoli - which is currently in the hands of militia. Gaddafi created “the illusion of a state” in Libya, but in reality this is not a restoration of the authority of the state but having a state structure “for the first time”, he said.
In Kobler's view, the Libyans should work, alongside the political process, on the creation of a council of traditional structures, of the Loya Jirga type, to accompany the government and parliament, and they should progress on the constitution. “Pressure must be exerted on everyone to finalise the constitution and to put it to a referendum”, he said.
Kobler also spoke about Libya's security situation. While “everyone is terrified by the expansion of ISIL”, the Libyan authorities are “still little inclined to organise meetings in order to create united Libyan forces”, Kobler said. In his view, the most urgent issue is not to propose the formation of troops, but the creation of a true army in the country, which will have to be one of the first tasks of a national army and united security forces. “A clear sequence of events is needed”, he added. “The Libyan security forces will have to fight ISIL alone. We will be able to help a little, but the forces on the ground will have to be led by the Libyans themselves”, Kobler stated. He warned that the government, when formed, would be weak, and that there was a strong anti-foreigner feeling among Libyan politicians: “Foreigners, stay out of our country. We can do it.” Asked about the US air strikes against ISIL on 19 February, Kobler said that whatever the place, any operation had to be justified by international law and international humanitarian law. According to Kobler, Libya reportedly has 40 million weapons for 6 million inhabitants.
Libya is also confronted with a humanitarian and economic crisis. Kobler said that 2.4 million Libyans are dependent on humanitarian aid and 1.3 million on food aid. Oil production has decreased from 1.6 million barrels in 2011 to only 350,000 now - not to mention the fall in the price of oil. The resources of the central bank have fallen to $50 million. “Within 6, 7 or 8 months there will be no more money”, Kobler warned.
During his visit to Brussels, he also met High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)