On Monday 19 December, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service hailed the liberation of Sirte, a former stronghold of so-called Islamic State, as “a significant step forward” for Libya.
Congratulating Libyans on their efforts in achieving the liberation of the city, the spokesperson gave a reminder in a press release that “the fight against terrorist groups in Libya is not yet over and all Libyans need to unite in this fight”.
The spokesperson said that the EU stands ready to provide support to Sirte’s inhabitants. She reiterated the EU’s “continuing support” to the Libyan political agreement and to the efforts of the Presidency Council. She again called on all stakeholders in Libya to “come together in a spirit of compromise” so that the Libyan political agreement can succeed.
“We expect all parties to refrain from violence and from the use of military means aimed at forcing a unilateral solution to Libya’s political crisis”, the spokesperson stated, going on: “Recent waves of violence, like the one in Tripoli recently, as well as irresponsible statements calling for armed confrontation, will risk endangering the process of building a stable, secure and prosperous Libya for its citizens”. At the start of December, heavily armed militias battled one another in the Libyan capital. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)