The second priority for Western powers, regional countries and the UN is for the new united government to play a more active role in reducing the flow of migrants from Libya to Europe over the Mediterranean Sea. The Libyan route has been a favorite for smugglers, and over 3,700 migrants drowned last year while making the dangerous trip to Europe via Libya.
An estimated more than 200,000 have made it to Europe after taking small boats from Libya. How the new government can be effective in meeting these two obligations has yet to be seen.
However, ordinary Libyans have a different set of priorities and expectations from the new government. For them, migrants flocking to Europe and the war on IS are not as important as safety in their neighborhoods or finding work. They would like to enjoy some stability in their daily lives and be able to go about their business without worrying about being randomly jailed, kidnapped or shot at.
They want the new government to tackle matters of daily concerns such as the skyrocketing prices, lack of cash in the banking system and timely payment of government salaries. They yearn for a decent medical system in which public hospitals can offer free, quality services, as they did before Libya plunged into its current state of chaos nearly five years ago.
Many Libyan media outlets have been airing comments by ordinary citizens across the country expressing their support for the proposed government, but they're doing so only out of despair and a lack of any viable alternative. There is a general feeling that this government is more concerned about what the outside world wants and less about what Libyans want.
