The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) released a statement Wednesday urging military forces in Libya to show restraint, as armed group mobilization pushes the country closer to violent clashes.

UNSMIL referenced the recent growing concern about the armed activity in densely populated areas in Libya. The statement urged all of those parties involved to show restraint and refrain from engaging in violence, particularly in the city of Tripoli, where there have been reports of armed groups deploying fighters to areas. The UN concluded by emphasizing the power of dialogue in bringing about the end of violence, rather than the use of physical force.

The violence in Libya dates back to 2011, when the death of longtime leader Muammar al-Qaddafi sent the country into political disarray. When the newly elected General National Congress (GNC) took over in 2012, they were faced with the problem of violence between Libyan forces and the Islamic State, specifically after the Islamist militants’ attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi. The battle between the two groups continued until 2016 when Libyan forces recaptured the coastal city of Sirte, which was formerly the group’s most significant stronghold outside of Syria and Iraq. Since then, political tensions have risen as different controlling political parties and outside organizations have tried to broker peace through ceasefires between the competing armed groups. 

More recently, the country has been additionally struggling with the after-effects of Storm Daniel. The storm devastated the country in 2023, causing tremendous flooding and taking the lives of over 11,000 people. The country’s political tension hampered the efforts of humanitarian forces bringing aid to those in need after the storm, and tensions rose as the Libyan people urged the Libyan government to be held accountable.

UNSMIL is a segment of the UN that is dedicated to working with the people and government of Libya to facilitate improvements such as furthering an inclusive and fair political process, encouraging the participation of women and youth at all levels of the government, and facilitating mediation tactics between armed groups to prevent violence.