‘Fighting in Libya threatens prospects for a solution to the dispute,’ warns Ennahda

Tunisia’s Ennahda Party has condemned the “escalation and fighting in Libya” which has resulted in casualties and has “terrorised civilians”. A statement issued by the movement on Tuesday said that the situation in Libya threatens the prospect of finding a peaceful solution and hinders the efforts made by various international and regional actors to end the conflict in Tunisia’s neighbour.

“All brothers in Libya should adhere to the highest degree of self-restraint and wisdom,” said Ennahda in a media statement, “and avoid whatever could fragment the Libyan people’s unity or [make them] lose the opportunity to reach consensus and build their democratic, independent and unified state.”

The Libyan city of Benghazi has been witnessing tension after General Khalifa Haftar’s forces, which are affiliated with the Tobruk-based House of Representatives, launched a new military operation on Saturday, dubbed Operation Doom, against armed groups opposed to the Tobruk government.

Ennahda called on all parties to opt for tolerance and reconciliation and to release detained women, children and the elderly on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha.

The movement praised the progress made in the UN-sponsored negotiations between Libyan factions and expressed its hope that such negotiations would culminate in a “national reconciliation that includes all strands of the Libyan people.” It also hoped that Libyans will “go past the grudges of the past.”

The current round of negotiations started on 10 September in Morocco within the context of the UN-sponsored Libyan political dialogue. The UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Bernardino Leon, held a press conference in Skhirat, Morocco, on Monday. He told journalists that the draft political agreement handed in to the Libyan factions is not subject to amendments, and participants in the dialogue have to respond with a Yes or No.