Tunisia, US discuss Libya's political future

WASHINGTON

Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar expressed support Monday for all efforts to ensure security in Libya.

Ammar received US Ambassador to Tunisia Joey Hood and US special envoy for Libya Ambassador Richard Norland to discuss strengthening ties between Tunisia and the US and also Libya's political future.

Regarding the political process in Libya, Ammar said the political solution for the country must be Libyan-Libyan in a framework of consensus and a Libyan leadership under the auspices of the UN, according to the Tunisian Foreign Ministry.

He also reiterated Tunisia's support for all efforts aimed at reaching a "comprehensive and lasting" settlement that would guarantee Libya's security, stability, unity and sovereignty, the ministry said.

Norland paid tribute to Tunisia's "positive and constructive "role in bridging the gap between the Libyan interlocutors.

He reiterated the US’s refusal to impose solutions by force from any party and expressed his country’s willingness to coordinate with Tunisia to move towards a political settlement based on dialogue and negotiation.

Libya has been plagued by sporadic security issues amid ongoing political division since 2022.

The country is currently governed by two rival administrations: the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh based in Tripoli, which controls the western part of the country, and the government of Osama Hammad, appointed by the House of Representatives, which operates out of Benghazi and governs the eastern region and parts of the south.

Efforts led by the UN to hold parliamentary and presidential elections have repeatedly stalled, prolonging the country’s political deadlock and exacerbating the security situation in the oil-rich nation.