The European Union Ministers on Monday made an appeal for immediate de-escalation of the fight going on in Libya. Fayez al-Serraj, the U.N.-backed Prime Minister of Libya met EU officials from the bloc’s member states in Brussels on Monday to discuss the Libyan crisis.
The official warned Libyan Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army’s offensive against Tripoli is a threat to international peace, reported Reuters.
“The LNA military attack on Tripoli and the subsequent escalation in and around the capital constitutes a threat to international peace and security and further threatens the stability of Libya,” EU members said in a joint statement.
In the statement, the EU members called out both the parties to immediately implement a ceasefire and to engage with the United Nations to ensure a full and comprehensive cessation of hostilities. They said the attacks may amount to war crimes and that those responsible should be held to account.
“It also calls on them to dissociate themselves both publicly and on the ground from terrorist and criminal elements involved in the fighting, and from those suspected of war crimes, including individuals listed by the U.N. Security Council,” the statement said.
The E.U. ministers and the Libyan prime minister also voiced concern about the “impact on migration flows” the fighting was having.
Violence in Libya began a month ago, when eastern commander, Khalifa Haftar made his way towards the outskirt of Tripoli. The fight has killed roughly 400 Libyans, displaced at least 50,000 and severely damaged several of Tripoli’s southern districts, according to the UN.
In related news, the French Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens not to travel to Libya due to the volatile security situation. The warning came after the liberation of two Frenchmen in Benin from the hands of armed groups. The ministry also urged French tourists to be more cautious in the African coast countries.
