Libya agrees ceasefire

TDT, Agencies

Libya’s warring parties agreed to cease all hostilities immediately and organise nationwide elections soon, an understanding swiftly welcomed by Bahrain and the United Nations. The statements were signed by Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the UN-recognised unity government based in the capital Tripoli, and Aguila Saleh, speaker of the eastern-based parliament backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.

The two have been at war virtually since the formation of Sarraj’s government in December 2015. Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, welcomed the ceasefire and stressed the need to adhere to this step by all parties involved. The Kingdom also urged to use this opportunity to stop all “foreign interference in the internal affairs of Libya.”

The statement further called on to resume the political process to reach a comprehensive political settlement that maintains security and stability in Libya and the region and meets the aspirations of the people of Libya. Separately, the UN’s top official to Libya, Stephanie Williams, called for “all parties to rise to this historic occasion and shoulder their full responsibilities before the Libyan people.”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the ceasefire declarations. Sisi, whose government has been a major supporter of the eastern-based administration dominated by Haftar, said the twin announcements were an “important step” on the path to restoring stability. Haftar launched an offensive in April 2019 to seize Tripoli from the Government of National Accord (GNA).

After 14 months of fierce fighting, Turkish-backed proGNA forces expelled Haftar’s troops from much of western Libya and pushed them eastwards to Sirte, a gateway to Libya’s rich oil fields and export terminals. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, on a surprise visit to Tripoli on Monday, warned that Libya faces a “deceptive calm” since fighting stalled around Sirte.