Berlin asks Libyan Prime Minister to postpone departure

2020-10-30T15:11:48.860Z

Germany on Friday, October 30, asked Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj to postpone his departure announced for the end of October, time to move forward in political talks to restore peace. Read also: Libya: Tripoli and Benghazi reweave the thread of negotiations After the signing of a ceasefire agreement a week ago, " Libyan internal talks on the political process have also got off to a good

Germany on Friday, October 30, asked Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj to postpone his departure announced for the end of October, time to move forward in political talks to restore peace.

Read also: Libya: Tripoli and Benghazi reweave the thread of negotiations

After the signing of a ceasefire agreement a week ago, "

Libyan internal talks on the political process have also got off to a good start,

" Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement, after a telephone conversation with Fayez al-Sarraj.

If Berlin respects the decision of the head of the government of national unity (GNA) to leave his post, "

however, we would like Mr. al-Sarraj to postpone his resignation for the moment and to remain in office for the moment,

" he said. -he adds.

This would be important to ensure institutional and executive continuity at the head of the Libyan government in these crucial weeks

", Argued the head of German diplomacy, adding to see in the current talks"

a real opportunity to progress towards peace in Libya

In September, the head of the Libyan government announced that he was ready to leave his post by October 31 to make way for a new executive resulting from these interlibyan talks.

Plunged into chaos after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya is today torn between two rival authorities: the Government of National Unity based in Tripoli and recognized by the UN, and the camp of Marshal Haftar, strong man from the east.

Military delegations from both sides signed a permanent UN-sponsored ceasefire agreement last week that includes provisions meant to put the country at war on the path to a lasting political solution.

Read also: Libya: 12 bodies discovered in new mass graves

According to an account of the telephone interview with Mr. Maas broadcast in Tripoli by the GNA, Mr. al-Sarraj said he had received "

many calls

" to stay in power temporarily, in particular from "

leaders of friendly countries

". in order to avoid “

any political vacuum

”.

Without responding directly, he "

thanked everyone for the confidence placed in him

", indicating that "

all he aspires to is that Libya can overcome this ordeal and that it arrives safely