The UN Security Council has disregarded the Tripoli authorities by extending sanctions imposed on Libya until Feb. 20, 2020.
Monday's vote at the Security Council was 13-0, with two countries abstaining.
The Council authorized action against illicit oil exports from Libya, and it added planning and committing sexual and gender-based violence as reasons for sanctions despite objections from Russia and China.
The Council's move came amid differences among Libyan politicians on the two-day conference set to be held in Palermo on November 12 in an attempt by Italy to bring together opposing forces and forge dialogue.
Political analyst Khalid al-Tarjaman told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that political solutions are less likely in the country, amid the control of Tripoli by militias.
He raised question marks on the security and military arrangements that chief of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj and head of the UN Mission to Libya Ghassan Salame have spoken about, demanding the support of the Libyan National Army, led by Khalifa Haftar, in abolishing terrorism in Libya.
Internationally, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Monday that he spoke extensively about Libya with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, and reaffirmed “the institutional consolidation, the economic and social development of the country can only advance through a process of inclusive dialogue and reconciliation that is guided by the United Nations in respect of the prerogatives that are proper to the Libyan people.”
In a joint conference with Ouyahia, Conte expressed hope that “Algiers will ensure this important contribution and can contribute concretely and direct the democratic process that we all hope for Libya”.
In a related matter, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said: "We demand that the embargo on arming the Libyan army be lifted, even partially, to allow it to strengthen its capabilities."
"We support the Libyan army as the national army authorized to maintain order and security,” Sisi emphasized on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum being held in Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday.
