LIBYA’S stability is at greater risk following recent militia clashes and amid turmoil in neighbouring Sudan and Niger that could spill over into the oil-rich north African nation, the country’s United Nations special envoy said on Tuesday.

Abdoulaye Bathily told the UN security council that political divisions in Libya “are fraught with risks of violence and disintegration for countries.”

Mr Bathily urged the country’s rival factions to resolve all election-related issues so that long-delayed voting could take place.

The comments from Mr Bathily to the security council also signalled a change of tack from the UN which after years of calling for elections as a first step is now saying that it prefers to see a unified government ahead of elections taking place.

But many Libyans suspect their political leaders are not interested in elections that could see them removed from the power they have held for years.

Mr Bathily told the security council that he was now working with Mohammed al-Menfi, the head of the Tripoli based presidential council, to identify ways of bringing the key players together to hammer out an agreement.

He said that he was speaking with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who has so far refused to step down from power, and Tobruk House Speaker Aguila Saleh.

“Without an inclusive political agreement that paves the way for peaceful, inclusive and transparent elections across Libya, the situation will worsen and cause further suffering to the Libyan people.”

Libya plunged into chaos after a Nato-manufactured uprising led to the toppling and then killing of leader Muammar Gadaffi in 2011. 

The country descended into chaos, with rival administrations in the east and west backed by rogue militias and foreign governments. 

The situation has worsened as the elections that were promised by December 24 2021 have failed to materialise.

Mr Bathily said that he hoped the ongoing discussions on a unified government and elections would be concluded in the coming weeks.