Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj, who is at the helm of the Tripoli-based Libyan government, has issued a warning that the flow of refugees from Libya to Europe will grow significantly if the fighting in Libya continues.
“We are facing a war of aggression that will spread its cancer throughout the Mediterranean. Italy and Europe need to be united and firm in stopping the war of aggression by Khalifa Haftar, a man who betrayed Libya and the international community,” al-Sarraj said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Repubblica.
“There are not only the 800,000 migrants potentially ready to leave, there would be Libyans escaping from this war,” the president noted. He added that the south of Libya had seen the resurgence of Daesh* terrorists who were ousted from the city of Sirte in late 2016.
Al-Sarraj ruled out any reconciliation talks with Haftar until he orders an end to the offensive on Tripoli and withdraws his forces. “Haftar’s treacherous action will bring destruction to Libya and its neighbours; no negotiations will be possible if [Haftar’s Libyan National Army] does not stop its attack on the population and if it does not withdraw,” he said.