Libyan PM Warns Europe Of New Migrant Wave

Libyan Prime Minister Fajes
al-Sarradsch warned Europe that a wave of migrants from Libya will soon flood
the shores of the continent. Al-Sarradsch advised Europe to prepare or be
swamped by hundreds of thousands of migrants:

“If Libya becomes even more precarious,
Europe will have to prepare for further waves of refugees,” al-Sarradsch told
the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Al-Sarradsch warned that an estimated
800,000 people are waiting in Libya for the opportunity to enter Europe.  For the embattled Prime Minister, the new
wave of migrant arrivals could be disastrous for Europe because it would
re-open a highly political issue.

Al-Sarradsch blames military
strongman Khalifa Haftar who ordered his Libyan National Army (LNA) to advance
to the capital, Tripoli, where UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) is
based.

The PM’s deputy, Ahmed Maitik was
quoted as saying  Haftar will create “30
years of civil war, 30 years of ISIS rule and 30 years of devastation” in
Libya.

Some western countries such as Italy,
support al-Sarradsch in the conflict which are being dominated by Haftar’s
troops.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte
has already warned against support for Haftar:

“A military option cannot be a
solution.”

Haftar is backed by France, Egypt,
United Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Russia. 
The tacit backing of France for Haftar led to strained relations with
Italy. 

The two countries see Libya as a key
partner in stopping the wave of migration from sub-Saharan Africa.

Early this month, European Parliament
President Antonio Tajani voiced out his concerns over a new migrant crisis in
Libya, due to the possibility of the UN backed government being toppled by
Haftar.

Tajani called on all sides in the
conflict to refrain from engaging in violent action:

“There can be no military solution to
the Libyan crisis. A new conflict would only cause further loss of life and
enormous damage to the country and its population.”

Tajani also warned that conflict could lead to the “risk of a new migration crisis, with the increase in [migration] flows, mainly to Italy and other Mediterranean countries.”

The EU Parliament chief asked the EU
for assistance:

“The EU should intervene
immediately and speak with a single and authoritative voice, contributing to a
peaceful and democratic solution, within the framework of the United Nations,
as requested several times by the European Parliament.”