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Libyans have reacted with a mixture of hope and doubt after the signing of a nationwide ceasefire agreement aimed at paving the way towards a political solution to the country’s conflict.
While observers have welcomed the United Nations-backed agreement, few are under any illusions about the difficulties of turning it into lasting peace on the ground.
“We have seen a lot of deals in the past,” said Hassan Mahmud al-Obeydi, a 40-year-old high school teacher from the eastern city of Benghazi. “The important thing is the implementation.”
Friday’s agreement was signed in Geneva by military delegates from the two main warring parties in the North African country, which plunged into violence in 2011 with the NATO-backed revolt that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and rival forces led by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar agreed to withdraw from the front lines, begin demobilizing armed groups, and begin integrating them into the state.
Essentially, the agreement also requires the departure of all foreign forces from Libyan soil within three months.
“It is good that the two sides have been prepared for a compromise, but the devil is in the details,” said Peter Millett, a former British ambassador to Libya. “There are a lot of questions. One key is: will the countries that have been patrons of the military forces in Libya support this commitment? “
Both camps in Libya’s complex war have received broad backing from foreign powers.
Friday’s deal comes four months after Haftar’s Emirati and Russian-backed forces abandoned their year-long attempt to seize the capital Tripoli, a battle that killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands.
In June, Haftar withdrew from western Libya in the face of a forceful counterattack by forces supporting the GNA, backed by Turkey.
The battle had further deepened bitter mistrust between rival political camps and their military allies, as well as common Libyans.
“The war caused terrible social divisions,” Obeydi said. “It is necessary to work immediately, right now, to rebuild and heal the deep wounds of Libyan society.”
The agreement calls for the departure of all foreign forces from Libyan soil within three months. [AFP]‘Ready to react’
“We have experience with an earlier deal, which was five days before Haftar’s attack on Tripoli, during which he destroyed the capital’s infrastructure and killed many people,” said pro-GNA fighter Salim Atouch, expressing doubts that the ceasefire to be maintained.
“I hope this is not like the previous agreements, which means that we are going back to war. We will comply with it, but we are ready to react at any time if it is violated ”.
The Geneva talks were the military part of a process led by the UN mission in Libya, UNSMIL.
Separate political talks that begin Monday are aimed at creating a new governing body and preparing for elections.
Mohamed Dorda, co-founder and chief consulting officer of geopolitical risk consultancy Libya Desk, said the ceasefire was a positive step that “creates a basis for political talks.”
“Libya needs a security agreement that allows the creation of a government. If we don’t deal with the security crisis, we will find ourselves in the same situation in a few years ”.
Massoud al-Fotmani, a 57-year-old Benghazi man who runs a group of grocery stores, said he hoped the ceasefire would continue.
“The war has caused a terrible economic recession,” he said. “We have lost a lot of money due to the cut of the commercial ties between the east and the west due to the closure of the highways.”
English teacher Mayssoon Khalifa, who works at a private school in Tripoli, echoed his call for lasting peace.
“Many are hopeful, but not optimistic,” he said. “I sincerely hope that this agreement will continue. Libya deserves better. “
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