UN envoy on Libya warns conflict could trigger chaos
September 5, 2019, 3:36 pm

UN envoy on Libya warns conflict could trigger chaos

“Many Libyans feel abandoned by part of the international community and exploited by others,” Ghassan Salame said. (File photo AFP)

The UN special envoy to Libya warned on Wednesday that without action by the Security Council, the country’s war could escalate if outside patrons step up support for the warring sides.

“Many Libyans feel abandoned by part of the international community and exploited by others,” Ghassan Salame said by video link with the council.

“Without the unequivocal support of this council and the broader international community for an immediate end to the Libyan conflict, I believe we are faced with two highly unpalatable scenarios,” Salame added.

One is “persistent and protracted low intensity conflict,” he said.

The other is increased support for either warring side by their outside patrons.

This, he said, would lead to “a sharp escalation that will assuredly plunge the entire region into chaos.”

“The idea that war should be given a chance and that a military solution is at all possible is quite simply a chimera,” said Salame, who has often complained that the council is not united on the Libyan conflict and that some members support one or the other of the warring sides.

Libya has been wracked by chaos since the 2011 uprising in which president Muammar Qaddafi was killed.

Khalifa Haftar, a retired general who had taken part in the revolt against Qaddafi, unleashed an offensive last Spring to conquer the capital, Tripoli.

His soldiers are fighting those of the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), currently headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.

A member of Lawyers for Justice in Libya, Marwa Mohamed, also told the council there was no clear message on Libya from the international community.

Major powers such as the US, Russia, France and Britain avoided giving speeches on Wednesday, saving their turns for a closed door session to be held after the public one.

Tunisia court upholds continued detention of presidential candidate Libya’s coast guard intercepts 108 Europe-bound migrants

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”