The Secretary-General held a telephone call on Friday, 4 March, with H.E. Mr. Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity of the State of Libya. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister discussed the latest developments in Libya. The Secretary-General expressed deep concern at the current severe political polarization in Libya, which carries significant risks for Libya’s hard-won stability. The Secretary-General stressed the need for all actors to preserve calm, while reiterating the UN’s firm rejection of the use of violence, intimidation and hate speech.

The Secretary-General added that the current stalemate required urgent dialogue to find a consensual way forward and reiterated his full support to mediation efforts as carried out by his Special Adviser on Libya, Ms. Stephanie Williams.