United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned the Security Council that foreign countries’ interference in the ongoing conflict in Libya has reached unprecedented levels, reported Reuters.
“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 a high-level virtual meeting of the Security Council.
According to a confidential May report by independent sanctions monitors to the UNSC Libya sanctions committee, Russian private military contractor Wagner Group has up to 1,200 people deployed in Libya backing renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA). Russia has, however, repeatedly denied media reports that claim that the Wagner Group is operating in Libya.
The UN chief said the current situation in Libya is gloomy and urged the international community to seize every opportunity to unblock the political stalemate. He assured that the UN will continue to working with the parties to reach a cease-fire and resume a political process to end a crisis of warring factions, and economic collapse.
In recent weeks, the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) forces has successfully pressed back the offensive on Tripoli by Haftar and his forces. The GNA has acquired back an airbase and two strategic towns in the northwest. Haftar has retreated east to the coastal city of Sirte.
Guterres said the U.N. mission has documented 102 civilians deaths and 254 civilians injuries between April and June this year, which marks a 172 percent increase as compared to the first quarter of 2020. He said there had also been at least 21 attacks on ambulances, medical facilities, and medical personnel.
The UN chief also called on the Security Council to take action over the obstruction by several key national officials of an international audit of the Central Bank of Libya.
