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Amb. Peter Bodde and Gen. Thomas Waldhauser visit Libyan Prime Minister in Tripoli, Libya

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, AFRICOM commander, and Amb. Peter Bodde, Chargé d’Affaires to the Libya External Office, met with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj March 19, 2019 in Tripoli, Libya.

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Amb. Peter Bodde and Gen. Thomas Waldhauser visit Libyan Prime Minister in Tripoli, Libya

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, AFRICOM commander, and Amb. Peter Bodde, Chargé d’Affaires to the Libya External Office, met with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj March 19, 2019 in Tripoli, Libya.

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Statement from Amb. Peter Bodde, Chargé d’Affaires to the Libya External Office:
Today, my colleague AFRICOM Commander General Tom Waldhauser and I traveled to Tripoli for productive meetings with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, Minister of Interior Fathi Bashaga and senior Government of National Accord officials.  

In our meetings, we reiterated United States support for Libya as a unified, secure, and prosperous state under a government that can serve the Libyan people. I also stressed the importance of swiftly implementing comprehensive economic reforms, further stabilizing oil production and ensuring greater fiscal transparency of Libya’s economic institutions, including the Central Bank of Libya. We will not tolerate spoilers to the political process.

We thanked Prime Minister al-Sarraj and Minister Bashaga for Libya’s strong partnership in combating ISIS and other UN-designated terrorist groups, and stressed the importance of avoiding further conflict that would enable terrorism and increase social and economic hardships.

The United States pledged $500,000 USD in rapid-response non-lethal assistance in support of Ministry of Interior efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Tripoli Security Directorate.   This new assistance complements the United States’  $30 million USD in ongoing security assistance in support of Government of National Accord priorities, including projects to provide training to the Tripoli Security Directorate, help implement international standards at key airports, improve Libya’s border security management capability, clear unexploded ordnance in Sirte, bolster security sector reform, and build coordination between relevant actors ahead of elections.

While these initiatives are critical to bolster security and address current threats, the only lasting solution for Libya is to overcome its political impasse. I expressed the United States’ strong support of United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General Dr. Ghassan Salamé as he works to facilitate dialogue, improve governance, and help Libyans prepare for credible and secure elections.

My visit to Tripoli today demonstrates the continued commitment of the United States to the Government of National Accord and to political reconciliation in Libya. The United States stands with the Libyan people as you pursue your goal of building a more secure, stable and prosperous future throughout Libya.