Libya’s internationally recognised Parliament based in Tobruk has voted against the UN-backed unity government with rival authorities based in Tripoli.

The appointment of a government of national unity is the attempt of the international community to resolve the divisions between the two parliaments currently present in the country, (Tripoli and the internationally recognized Tobruk) and to form a government who can restore national security.

Last December, the Security Council welcomed the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement, called the Skhirat Agreement, to form a Government of National Accord, and called on its new Presidency Council to form that Government within 30 days and finalize interim security arrangements required for stabilizing the country.

Through the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2259 (2015), the 15-nation body endorsed the 13 December Rome Communiqué to support the Government of National Accord as the sole legitimate Government of Libya. Such a Government, which should be based in Tripoli, was “urgently needed” to provide Libya with the means to maintain governance, and promote stability and economic development, stressed the Security Council.  All Member States were requested to work with Libyan authorities and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to develop a “coordinated package” of support to build Government capacity.

A Presidential Council,  operating from Tunisia and led by Sarraj, come into being, while a cabinet of 32 ministries proposed by the Council on January 19 awaited endorsement by the House of Representatives, in order to create a government  able to deliver stability and tackle a growing threat from fighters with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group. Nevertheless, the rejection by the existing parliament leaves a question mark over its future.

Indeed, the seatback of the new Lybian government opens a new scenario for Libya and raise doubts about the consent of the Parliament of Tobruk and the existence of adequate conditions for a national unity government sets up in Tripoli. It is crystal clear that the rejection is a blow for the UN, which has been trying to persuade the elected Tobruk parliament and an Islamist-led rival in Tripoli to unite, in order to end the civil war.

But, it also call into questions a proposed €100m (£76m) European Union aid package and Britain’s promise to deploy 1,000 troops to train a new Libyan army, which are both conditional on a unity government being established.

Libya has been left in a “terrible state” because the West failed to take “forceful” action in the aftermath of Gaddafi’s fall in 2011. Security is a prerequisite for successful post-conflict reconstruction and national reconciliation. Genuine, inclusive, and transparent national dialogue must begin immediately if Libya wants to resolve its transitional challenges.

From this point of view, as Libyans must take ownership of any national reconciliation process, the international community has an important, though necessarily limited, role to play.  Endorsing Sarraj, the international community will turn its back to the democratically – elected Tobruk Parliament, tooking a high risk: without acceptance by the two existing parliaments, the UN will have encouraged the birth of a third government, worsening Libya’s chaos and making it harder still to bring peace or curb the expansion of Isis.