The Libyan American Alliance (LAA) condemns the intense fighting between rival forces across Tripoli on Saturday that killed at least 32 people, wounded 159 others, and caused destruction to civilian infrastructure. It is imperative that spoilers of peace and stability in Libya be held accountable through independent, transparent investigations and for all parties to implement conflict prevention measures.
LAA denounces the use of indiscriminate shelling in civilian-populated neighborhoods and calls for the Libyan authority and the international community to hold accountable those who committed crimes against civilians, disrupted the fragile peace, and undermined stability in Libya by launching a prompt, impartial and independent investigation into the violent incidents. LAA continues its work advancing democratic governance, peace, stability, and protection of human rights in Libya by calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the Libya Stabilization Act: a bill that requires the U.S. government to address foreign interference and impose sanctions on those who threaten peace or stability in Libya as well as individuals knowingly responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses in Libya.
LAA reiterates its calls for one such human rights abuser, Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, to be held responsible for his role in war crimes against Libyan civilians.
More importantly, all parties to the conflict must commit to ensuring the preservation of peace and the protection of all civilians, including the lives of migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally-displaced Libyan citizens caught in the middle of armed hostilities.
LAA calls on all parties to commit to finding a political compromise to end the struggle for power in Libya and urges for the immediate re-opening of the negotiations to agree on a constitutional framework for the holding of national parliamentary and presidential elections.
Dr. Esam Omeish, President of the Libyan American Alliance, said the following: “Libya’s political stalemate and legitimacy crisis cannot be solved through threats of violence or through the use of force. It is high time for Libyan leaders to put aside their differences for the future of the country and recognize their clear responsibility to the Libyan people.”