LThe United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has issued a stern condemnation of the recent armed clashes witnessed in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, urgently calling on all parties involved to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that could lead to further escalation of the volatile situation.
The clashes are reported to have occurred between armed groups affiliated with the Stability Support Apparatus and the Judicial Police, causing panic among the local population and prompting families to flee public areas.
In a statement published on X, the UNSMIL expressed its “deep concern” over the April 11th violence in the city, calling “on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid escalation or retaliation.”
UNSMIL lambasted the “recurring use of violence to settle disputes,” stating that such actions “gravely endanger civilians and further undermine the fragile security situation.” The mission also demanded that “those responsible must be held accountable.”
Addressing the broader context, the UN statement stressed that Libya’s “chronic state of insecurity is a result of the prolonged political crisis and eroded institutional legitimacy.” UNSMIL asserted that this volatile environment serves as a “reminder that Libya needs to prioritize elections to establish legitimate governing bodies able to extend the State’s authority and uphold the rule of law.”
UNSMIL’s urgent calls for restraint and its emphasis on the need for a renewed push towards elections and good governance underscore the pressing imperative for a sustainable political resolution to Libya’s protracted crisis, which continues to undermine the country’s stability and development.