Libya: Swiss welcome nomination of new interim government
Stephanie Williams, Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya as seen at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva on Thursday
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Switzerland has welcomed the selection of a new unified transitional authority for Libya. The body has been tasked with paving the way for Libyan elections later this year.
“This is a major step forward toward reconciliation and lasting peace,” the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs tweeted on Friday eveningExternal link.
The United Nations-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, hosted in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland over five days, brought together 75 delegates who elected a unified executive authority. The authority is tasked with promoting reconciliation within the country and leading Libya to national elections scheduled for December 24, 2021.
The forum chose Mohammed al-Menfi as presidency council head and Abdulhamid Dbeibeh as prime minister.
Switzerland hosted the forum as part of its commitment to supporting the UN-backed Libyan peace process and to fulfil the peace and security objectives set out in its Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23, a FDFA statement said.External link
It said that it supported the work of the UN and Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General Stephanie Williams and was ready to host any further meetings if required.
Libya has been engulfed in chaos since a NATO-backed intervention ended Muammar Gaddafi’s four-decade rule in 2011 and has been split since 2014 between warring administrations in the west and east, backed by foreign powers.
However, with many factions in the country afraid to surrender influence, and with foreign powers invested in local allies, the new government may rapidly come under pressure, experts say.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
How centuries of Swiss emigrants left their mark on the US
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
This content was published on
Former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei has filed a criminal complaint against the Geneva prosecutor for slander.
Swiss energy minister suggests way forward for new nuclear power plants
This content was published on
Swiss Energy Minister Albert Rösti says existing nuclear power plant sites in Switzerland could be used for new nuclear power plants.
This content was published on
Swiss wheelchair racer Catherine Debrunner won the 5,000 metres to bring home Switzerland’s first gold medal at the Paralympics in Paris.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Libyan interim government will be chosen in Switzerland
This content was published on
Libya's new political leadership - until the elections in December - will be decided on Swiss soil, it has been announced.
Warning from Geneva: perpetrators of Libyan atrocities will be held accountable
This content was published on
Geneva-based political scientist Hasni Abidi discusses the recent UN Human Rights Council resolution on the Libyan conflict.
Swiss call for political solution to Libya fighting
This content was published on
The Swiss government has urged all parties in the military conflict in Libya to agree to a truce that would allow humanitarian operations to proceed.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.