The US House of Representatives passed on Tuesday a bipartisan Libya Stabilization Act, introduced by Democrat Ted Deutch and Republican Joe Wilson, to allow sanctions on foreign actors supporting rival factions in Libya should the unity government and current ceasefire fall apart.
Voting 386-35 in favor, the House of Representatives passed the bill despite expressing qualms about the no-confidence vote, which the House said could jeopardize the Libyan national elections currently set for December.
“The Libyan people deserve a future free from foreign meddling, from conflict and corruption and form economic turmoil,” said Mr. Deutch, who chairs the House Middle East panel, adding that Libyans also deserve to choose their leaders in free and fair elections.
“The Libya Stabilization Act will deter foreign interference in Libya by placing sanctions on those who deploy mercenaries, support militias, violate the UN arms embargo and commit human rights abuses in Libya,” Mr. Deutch added.
The Act allows US President Joe Biden to defer the sanctions if he “determines that the parties to the conflict in Libya have agreed to and are upholding a sustainable, good-faith ceasefire in support of a lasting political solution in Libya.”
The US Senate must pass the Libya Stabilization Act before Biden can sign the legislation into law.
