The Assembly of the Libyan tribes has refused any foreign aid as a matter of principle. It has decided that it is only through its own efforts that Libya will be liberated from the suffocating stranglehold of the jihadists that have carved up Libyan territory. Battles are already underway in Tripoli.

The United States had entrusted France with the task of re-establishing a colonial order in Libya. However in August, the United States revoked France’s mandate, preferring instead to allow Italy, now governed by nationalists, to deal with this matter.

Despite this, France, which had set up several meetings in Paris for the heads of rival tribes, is still pursuing its mandate with the same amount of zeal.

On 1 September 2018, the United States and Italy as well as France and the United Kingdom signed a joint communiqué calling for respect for the decisions on Libya announced by the President of the Security Council on 6 June 2018.

Yet, while this Presidential Declaration makes reference to France’s efforts, the only resolution adopted is to support the principle of fresh elections. Neither the Security Council nor the four Western Powers have been able to get beyond this minimal consensus.

Translation
Anoosha Boralessa