UN envoy to Libya leaves Tripoli without convincing Abusahmin to sign Skhirat agreement

United Nations envoy for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Martin Kobler has left Tripoli after visiting Tripoli and Tobruk.

During his two-day visit to Tripoli and Tobruk, wrapped up yesterday, Kobler met with Libyan Parliament Speaker Ageila Saleh and President of the General National Congress Nuri Abusahmin in order to convince them to sign the Skhirat agreement, which was approved by the UNSC last week.

In statements, Kobler said that Saleh approved the Libyan political agreement, which was signed in Skhirat weeks ago.

He also said that Abusahmin was not convinced of signing the Skhirat agreement.

Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 ouster of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi and now has two governments and two parliaments.

Militant groups have taken advantage of this state of lawlessness in the country to make gains along the coastline, and the U.N. estimates that fighting has forced 435,000 people from their homes.

On December 17, under U.N. guidance, envoys from both sides and a number of independent political figures signed a deal to unify the government.

Around 80 of 188 lawmakers from Libya’s internationally recognized parliament and 50 of 136 members of the rival Tripoli-based General National Congress signed the deal.

It calls for a 17-member government, headed by businessman Fayez el Sarraj as premier, based in Tripoli.

Source: MENA