October 24, 2020 12:00:01 pm
In this Sept. 22, 2016 file photo, fighters from the Libyan forces affiliated with the Tripoli government rest and reload during an offensive against Islamic State militants in Sirte, Libya. (AP Photo: Manu Brabo, file)
Rival matches were announced in Libya on Friday a historic ceasefire followed by five days of 5 + 5 Libyan Joint Military Commission (JMC) talks in Geneva, ushering in the possibility that the protracted conflict is coming to an end.
Stephanie Williams, who is the Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, said: “I have the most fervent hope that today’s agreement will be celebrated by future generations of Libyans as representing that crucial and courageous first step towards a comprehensive agreement. of the long Libyan crisis “.
What is happening in Libya?
Libya has been embroiled in a power struggle between rival militias since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted from power by NATO-backed forces and was assassinated by the rebel militia in October 2011. Gaddafi’s death marked the end of a bumpy 42-year government of the first. Army officer who seized the reins of power from King Idris in a military coup in 1969.
In the wake of Gaddafi’s overthrow, scores of militias led by multiple warlords rushed to fill the power vacuum. As a result, Libya became a war zone with different militant leaders claiming control of the North African nation. Some of the disputed issues between the warring factions include control of oil infrastructure, governance, national finances, and the military. 📣 Follow Express explained on Telegram
Are other countries involved?
The internationally recognized UN-backed government called the Government of National Accord (GNA) is led by Fayez al-Sarraj, whose Tripoli-based government is supported by his allies Qatar and Turkey. Turkey has sent troops to Libya, which includes Syrian rebel fighters aligned with Turkey, according to the BBC. Turkey maintains that it has sent these troops to help the UN-backed Western government. The GNA, whose authority is challenged by factions controlling the east, seized power in 2015 under the UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement.
The eastern part of Libya is controlled by rebel forces under the command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) which is led by General Khalifa Haftar, who is supported by Russian military contractors. Between 2014 and 2019, the LNA has carried out military operations against the Islamic State in the east. The expansion of the Islamic State has further complicated the situation and is also one of the reasons why the United States is one of the foreign states that has intervened.
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An overview of the talks between rival factions in the Libyan conflict at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 20, 2020 (Fabrice Coffrini / Pool via Reuters).
What has been the impact of the civil war in Libya?
According to the Council on Foreign Relations’ Global Conflict Tracker, the civil war in Libya has created more than 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers, while more than 268,000 people have been displaced. According to a report by the Congressional Investigative Service (CRS), since April 2019, more than 2,600 Libyans, including hundreds of civilians, have died.
So what is the new ceasefire agreement about?
According to this new agreement facilitated by the UN, all foreign mercenaries and the armed forces will have to withdraw within the next 90 days and the parties also agreed that any violations in the ceasefire will be dealt with by a joint military force, which it will be under a unified command.
However, the ceasefire does not apply to UN-designated terrorist groups. The agreement has also established a joint police operations room that will implement and propose special arrangements to secure areas cleared of military units and armed groups. In addition, the 5 + 5 also agreed to open the land and air routes that connect the regions and cities of Libya.
In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, a Misrata sniper shoots at militant positions of the Islamic State in Sirte, Libya. (AP Photo: Manu Brabo, file)
Significantly, Libya has the largest oil and gas reserves in Africa and with regard to oil production, the different parties have agreed that the commanders of the eastern and western oil facilities will work directly with a representative to be appointed by the Corporation. National Petroleum (NOC). This representative will be tasked with recommending a plan to restructure the Petroleum Facility Guards to ensure continued oil flow. This is a significant advance since control of the oil infrastructure is one of the elements of competition between the GNA and the LNA.
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