UN Secretary General says foreign intervention is “new phase of Libya’s conflict”

“The conflict has entered a new phase, with foreign interference reaching unprecedented levels, including in the delivery of sophisticated equipment and the number of mercenaries involved in the fighting,” Guterres told the UN Security Council through video-conference.

“Time is not on our side in Libya,” he warned and urged the international community to use every opportunity to unblock the political dead-end.

Although noting that the situation on the frontlines has mostly been quiet since 10 June, with UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) forces 25 kms from the Mediterranean coastal city of Sirte, he said the UN is “very concerned” by an alarming military build-up around that city, including “a high level of direct foreign interference” in violation of a UN arms embargo, Security Council resolutions and commitments made at the Berlin International Conference on Libya six months ago.

He stressed that almost 30,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to continuing fighting in Tripoli’s southern suburbs and Tarhouna, bring the total of internally displaced persons in Libya to more than 400,000.

Guterres said the oil blockade imposed in January by renegade commander Khalifa Haftar’s forces under the Libyan National Army in the central and eastern parts caused a $6.5 billion loss.

He added that the UN is working to mediate and end the blockade that aims “to alleviate economic hardship compounded by the conflict and COVID-19.”