UN mission in Libya expresses 'grave cncern' about civilian death in Haftar stronghold demonstration

14 Septembre 2020

Tripoli, Libya, September 14 (Infosplusgabon) - The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has expressed "grave concern" regarding reports that one civilian was killed, three were injured, and a number of other demonstrators were arrested last Saturday following reported excessive use of force by eastern authorities against peaceful demonstrators in the city of al-Marj, the stronghold of Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA).

UNSMIL, in a statement on its website, called for "a thorough and immediate investigation" into these incidents and for the speedy release of all those arbitrarily arrested and detained.

"UNSMIL reminds all parties in Libya that the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights and fall within Libya’s obligations under international human rights law," the statement said.

It noted that these demonstrations, and those witnessed of late in other parts of Libya including the capital, Tripoli, are motivated by "deep-seated frustrations" about sustained poor living conditions, shortages of electricity and water, rampant corruption, misgovernance, and a lack of service provision throughout the country.

"They underscore the urgent need to lift the oil blockade and return to a full and inclusive political process that will meet the aspirations of the Libyan people for representative government, dignity, and peace," UNSMIL said.

Demonstrations have rocked the eastern city of Benghazi, Libya's second largest city and headquarters of the country's parallel government.

Inhabitants of several districts demonstrated last week Friday for the second consecutive day to protest against the deterioration in living conditions and endemic corruption in government institutions.

The demonstrators also called on the authorities to fight against corruption and hold those accountable for this situation.

Reports say demonstrators have set fire to the headquarters of Haftar, whose NLA, supported by UAE, Russian mercenaries and Egypt, launched a 14-month bloody, destructive and suffocating siege of Tripoli and were only defeated by the Government of National Accord (GNA) with the help of Turkey.

Haftar and his forces have also blocked oil sites and ports since last January, leading to the loss of more than US$9.5 billion in revenue.

Last week, there were two separate intra-Libyan talks attended by the two rival administrations -- Tripoli based Libyan High Council of State and the House of Representatives (Parliament) based in Tobruk -- in the Moroccan town of Bouznika and the Swiss resort of Montreux to hammer out a political solution to the Libyan crisis.

The United States Embassy in Libya announced on Saturday that Haftar has personally pledged to lift the blockade on oil sites.

A statement by the US embassy said as responsible Libyan parties come together in UN-facilitated peaceful dialogue, the U.S. Embassy is encouraged by an apparent sovereign Libyan agreement to enable the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to resume its vital and apolitical work.

In an exchange of letters between US Ambassador Richard Norland and Haftar, as well as in recent discussions with a broad range of Libyan leaders, the Ambassador underscored U.S. confidence in the NOC and support for a financial model that would constitute a credible guarantee that oil and gas revenues would be managed transparently and preserved for the benefit of the Libyan people.

"The LNA subsequently conveyed to the U.S. government the personal commitment of General Haftar to allow the full reopening of the energy sector no later than September 12," the statement said.

It noted that the Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh on 21 August also called for the full resumption of NOC operations with transparent management of revenues.

al-Sarraj and Saleh in separate statements on 21 August declared a ceasefire in Libya.

"As Libyans suffer from an acute electricity crisis rooted in the forced shutdown of oil and gas production, grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, and confront the threat posed by foreign mercenaries and armed groups at critical energy infrastruct

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/PGV/GABON2020

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