CAIRO –
A senior UN official for Libya on Saturday condemned the storming of the parliament building by angry protesters as part of multi-city protests against the political establishment and deteriorating economic conditions.
Hundreds of protesters marched through the streets of the capital Tripoli and other Libyan cities on Friday, with many attacking and torching government buildings, including the House of Representatives in the eastern city of Tobruk.
“The right of people to protest peacefully must be respected and protected, but riots and acts of vandalism, such as the storming of the House of Representatives headquarters last night in Tobruk, are totally unacceptable,” said Stephanie Williams. , UN special adviser on Libya. On twitter.
Friday’s protests came a day after leaders of parliament and another Tripoli-based legislative chamber failed to reach an agreement on the election during UN-mediated talks in Geneva. The dispute now centers on the eligibility requirements of the candidates, according to the United Nations.
Libya was unable to hold elections in December after challenges including legal disputes, controversial presidential hopefuls and the presence of rebel militias and foreign fighters in the country.
The fact that the vote did not take place was a huge step down from international efforts to bring peace to the Mediterranean nation. It has opened a new chapter in its long-standing political stalemate, with two rival governments now claiming power after tentative steps towards unity in the past year.
Protesters, frustrated by years of chaos and division, have called for the removal of the current political class and for elections to be held. They also spoke out against dire economic conditions in the oil-rich nation, where fuel and bread prices have risen and power cuts are frequent.
There were fears that militias across the country could put down protests as they did in the 2020 demonstrations when they opened fire on people protesting dire economic conditions.
José Sabadell, envoy of the European Union in Libya, called on the demonstrators to “avoid any type of violence”. He said Friday’s demonstrations showed that people want “change through elections and their voices must be heard.”
US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland urged Libyan political leaders and their foreign backers to work for a compromise to hold elections.
“It is clear that no single political entity enjoys legitimate control over the entire country and any effort to impose a unilateral solution will result in violence,” he added. warned on Twitter after a call with Mohammad Younes Menfi, head of the Libyan presidential council.
Libya has been wracked by conflict since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country was divided for years between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by different militias and foreign governments. .