European Council President Charles Michel pledged support to Libya’s new interim government Sunday during a visit to Tripoli as the country seeks to end a decade of conflict.
“We command [sic] your efforts to come together in a spirit of national unity and reconciliation. The future of Libya is in your hands. You have a unique opportunity to build a united, sovereign, stable and prosperous country,” Michel said in a statement.
The interim government was sworn in last month, with Abdul Hamid Dbeibah serving as prime minister until elections to be held later this year.
Michel stressed that the departure of “all foreign fighters and troops” from the country would be a precondition to rebuilding.
“The implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and the respect of the UN arms embargo will be crucial in this process. We encourage all institutions to ensure timely preparations for elections on 24 of December. And we are ready to increase our engagement,” he said.
The EU’s ambassador to Libya will also return on a permanent basis to Tripoli by the end of this month, Michel said.
The European Council president continues his tour of the region on Monday by meeting Tunisia’s President Kais Saied in Tunis. On Tuesday, he will be in Ankara, Turkey, where he is due to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.