The head of the Libyan government, Osama Hammad, launched a blistering attack on the United Nations and Western powers, accusing them of actively contributing to the country’s continued division by refusing to grant his administration official recognition. In an interview with the Italian news agency “Italpress”, he emphasized the need for “tangible and serious” collaboration with his government to seal off desert smuggling routes and halt migration flows.
Hammad argued that the Italian government is obligated to initiate formal dialogue with his administration, warning that continuing negotiations solely with the unmandated “Tripoli Government” will fail to yield any genuine outcomes concerning irregular migration.
He disclosed that the armed forces now maintain control over roughly 80% of Libyan territory, covering southern and most eastern regions. He noted that this widespread control is in direct contrast to the sustained European support for the Tripoli government.
He further alleged that the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) intervened negatively in appointments and obstructed legitimate political representation, actions he believes exacerbated the internal split. He cited what he called a breach of diplomatic protocol as the reason he cancelled a visit by a European delegation scheduled to arrive in Benghazi last July.
