Head of Libya's Presidency Council pledges to work to unify army

CAIRO – 14 March 2020: In a speech addressed to the people, Head of the Libyan Presidency Council, Muhammad Al-Manfi, pledged to work to unify the military institution on professional foundations, and stressed that the council prioritizes focusing on completing the national reconciliation file, in a way that achieves coexistence between Libyans.

 

Al-Manafi said, "In light of the tasks entrusted to us, we will work to consolidate and perpetuate peace, and facilitate all areas to support the 5 + 5 military track to unify the military institution on pure professional and patriotic foundations."

 

"We will also spare no effort to provide the National Unity Government with the appropriate conditions for it to proceed rapidly and immediately address the necessary files," he added.

 

Furthermore, he stated that the greatest challenge would be to focus on establishing the national reconciliation by building its structures and providing its moral and material requirements and conditions.

 

Al-Manfi emphasized the need to "consolidate the values of tolerance and uphold the supreme national interest, to achieve peaceful coexistence, without impunity for those who commit crimes against the Libyan people.

 

Al-Manfi's statement came after the National Unity Government headed by Abdel Hamid Dabaiba gained the confidence of Parliament, in a move aimed at ending the conflict that has been going on in Libya for nearly 10 years.

 

Dabaiba's government gained the confidence of Parliament with 121 votes out of 132 deputies who attended the session.

 

On a similar note, Spokesman for the Libyan Parliament, Abdullah Belhaq, announced that the constitutional oath session will be held next Monday at the temporary headquarters of the House of Representatives in Tobruk, in the far east of Libya.

 

It is expected that the recent government will end the Libyan division between East and West that has prevailed for years. It will also work to end the chaos that swept the country and unify its pioneering institutions, to conduct elections in December 2021.

 

The government has the task of dealing with many difficulties, such as the economic crises the country is going through, as well as the unemployment crisis, inflation and terrible public services after 10 years of conflict.

 

Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, and was left with two rival authorities and a multitude of militias vying for control of the country. The country’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord based in Tripoli, while Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, is supported by a parallel administration based in the east.