At negotiations last week in Algiers, Leon warned that Libya was “at the limit”. With oil production stalled, institutions are running out of money to pay salaries and cover expenses, he said.
Leon urged representatives of the internationally recognised government in Tobruk and the Islamist-linked Fajr Libya militia alliance that controls the capital to overcome their differences.
“The competing governments (are) not advancing, not flagging very clearly a decision to reach an agreement, while we have seen terrorism, we have seen Daesh (IS) becoming more and more important in the country,” he said.
During April talks in Morocco, Leon and other negotiators said the sides were very close to an agreement on a draft proposal to form a national unity government that would serve for a maximum of two years.
After last week’s two days of talks in Algeria, Libyan political factions called for the urgent formation of such a government so it can “swiftly assume its responsibilities to tackle the many difficult challenges facing Libya on the security, political and economic levels.”
In a statement, the factions expressed concern about the “upsurge in terrorist acts” and the “imminent danger” from the takeover by IS of some territory.
The jihadist group, which controls swathes of Syria and Iraq, has won the loyalty of several Islamist groups in Libya and claimed responsibility for a series of attacks and atrocities, including the killings of dozens of Egyptian and Ethiopian Christians.
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