Libya’s Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj has ruled out peace talks with the leader of his country’s rival government, describing him as a « war criminal. »
Sarraj used much of his time before the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday to deride Khalifa Hifter and his supporters as « coup plotters » and blame them for Libya’s continued instability.
Sarraj said Hifter was « not a partner for peace. »
Libya was thrown into chaos during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. The rebellion led to the overthrow of longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi, and Libya has been split between two governments virtually ever since, each backed by rival Arab states.
The lack of security has made Libya’s shores a transit point for migrants seeking refuge in Europe. Libya has been criticized for its treatment of those migrants.
Sarraj hit back on that, saying Libya is a victim of migration, not the cause of migration.