A permanent agreement between the two parties to the conflict in Libya

The two parties fighting in Libya agreed to a permanent ceasefire in all parts of the country. The UN mission in Libya confirmed on Friday that the Tripoli-based government, backed by the country’s warring international groups, had reached an agreement between the government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA). by Khalifa Haftar.

The agreement is expected to bring lasting peace to Libya after a long war. Although many have expressed doubts about whether the deal will last. Because even before such a ceasefire agreement was signed, the GNA and LNA got involved in the war by violating it in a few days.

Stephanie Williams, the UN ambassador to Libya, said the ceasefire would take effect soon. All foreign fighters must leave Libya in the next three months. The removal of front-row force members and a new joint police force in those locations will be deployed for safety.

For the first time in more than a year since the Libyan government reached a ceasefire agreement with Khalifa Haftar’s forces, a commercial jet began flying from Tripoli to the eastern city of Benghazi on Friday.

UN envoy Stephanie Williams has praised the bravery of the two conflicting parties in Libya in agreeing to a ceasefire. However, he also said that the losers should not be allowed to be the winners. The UN envoy said both sides agreed to a ceasefire and needed international support.

After 14 months of fighting in the capital Tripoli, the country’s ruling GNA government defeated Haftar’s forces in June. The LNA then reached a ceasefire with the GNA backed by an international group.

Political instability in Libya has erupted since former dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an attack by NATO-backed forces. After Gaddafi’s death in 2014, Libya was divided into east and west. The Tripoli-based government, backed by the international group, is controlled by Khalifa Haftar’s Government of National Accord (GNA) and Libyan National Army (LNA).

Last year, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, visited Tripoli as part of the preparations for the start of the peace talks. But in the middle of his visit, Haftar’s forces attacked Tripoli. The UN secretary general praised both sides in Libya for signing the ceasefire agreement on Friday.

Political talks between the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) are scheduled to begin in Tunisia next month.

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera.

SIS / MS