Libya’s warring factions to meet in Cairo

Rival Libyan factions could soon be meeting in Cairo for reconciliation talks following a regional meeting over the weekend.

Egypt announced the planned negotiations after the just concluded meeting between ministers from Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Niger, and United Nations envoy Martin Kobler.

“A political solution is the only way to resolve the crisis in Libya,” Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said in a press conference.

“We are focusing our efforts to bring Libyan leaders together for a direct dialogue, to build confidence and understanding,” he explained.

Since 2011, Libya has been thrown into a state of turmoil by fighting between militias, tribes and two rival governments. The ensuing power vacuum has enabled Daesh to thrive in several parts of the country, despite being ousted recently from their stronghold of Sirte. It is believed they have regrouped elsewhere in the country.

The UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli has failed to exercise its authority, which is mainly contested by a rival eastern administration in Tobruk backed by Gen. Khalifa Haftar who is growing closer to Russia. The planned meeting is to elect a leader of Libya that will be accepted and supported by all parties, according to The New Arab.

Egypt’s hosting of the meeting will, however, raise a few eyebrows especially because of its support for Hafter, the self-proclaimed leader of the Libyan National Army who was described as a “war criminal” by a Libyan council earlier this month.

Haftar was recently hosted by Cairo alongside parliament speaker Aguila Saleh and prime minister of the GNA, Fayez al-Sarraj, in a bid to find “common ground” to solve the crisis.