Significant hurdles stand in the way of Libya's Fayez Al Sarraj

Maha Samara underlines three main hurdles that the prime minister needs to overcome to gain a firm foothold in Libya

Gen Khalifa Haftar enjoys popularity and the trust and friendship of Aquila Saleh, formerly the speaker of the house of representatives. Esam Omran Al-Fetori / Reuters

Cautiously, Fayez Al Sarraj is trying to establish a firm foothold in Libya. His unity government has this week secured six official buildings in Tripoli, but there is much work still to be done.

In order for Mr Al Sarraj and his government to succeed he needs to overcome three significant hurdles.

First, he needs to calm the fears of the army commander Khalifa Haftar, who is popular and enjoys the trust and friendship of Aquila Saleh, formerly the speaker of the house of representatives.

Secondly, Libya hosts any number of fighting groups – small and big, home-grown or supported by regional powers. A lot of these are sleeping cells who are keeping a low profile because of the acute condition of the population, who are suffering because of the devaluation of the national currency, unpaid salaries, lawlessness and a general the lack of security.

The coalition government should make use of the prevailing mood of the population, who are tired of militia rule.

The three most important institutions in the country – the central bank, the sovereign wealth fund and the national oil company – support Mr Al Sarraj. He should not squander this moment.

Third, the government needs the firm support of the UN, the EU, Nato and the US government.

Libya needs advisers, equipment and intelligence in its fight against ISIL, yet European countries are giving mixed signals, although it should be noted that Philip Hammond, the UK foreign secretary, travelled to Libya on Monday to provide funding to counter terrorism and tackle smuggling routes.

Barack Obama recently admitted that his “biggest mistake” as US president was his failure to plan for the next day following the fall of Muammar Qaddafi.

Libya was left in a vacuum after Qaddafi's death. Once the old regime crumbled, international support waned and the country was left to its fate in which regime munitions and Nato leftovers made Libya an arms dump that militias seized. Each claimed to set up their own city state.

Mr Al Sarraj's main challenge is to expel ISIL from Sirte, build a unified national army and security force, dissolve the militias and integrate them into the existing security forces.

The international community took a decision not to interfere in post-Qaddafi Libya. This created a big misunderstanding for Libyans as well their regional neighbours.

The truth of the matter is that international support for Libya often represents little more than lip service, with the possible exception of Italy.

It has a legacy as a former colonial power and much of its oil and gas needs are supplied by Libya. Italy also has a significant role to play in stemming the flow of refugees who make the perilous crossing to Europe.

This touches on another significant challenge for Mr Al Sarraj: border control. The borders are open and as long as they are unprotected Libya will remain a haven for smugglers and traffickers.

In summary, we need to be patient with Mr Al Sarraj as his mission is complex. He needs luck, perseverance and patience to succeed, and the cooperation of regional and international powers.

There is, of course, fear of ISIL controlling parts of the country and concern that they will seek to expand their influence, as they have done elsewhere.

Of equal concern is that many ISIL recruits are leaving Syria and Iraq to seek refuge of sorts in Libya.

Their move to Libya increases the danger as their shift to a territory closer to Europe makes it easier to launch attacks in Europe and Africa.

Maha Samara is a journalist in Beirut