Germany is hosting a new international conference on Libya on Wednesday 23 June. The presence of many countries and actors on the ground should make it possible to consolidate the progress made in recent months, in particular as regards the conduct of elections. The withdrawal of foreign forces planned by the first conference in Berlin 18 months ago has not been followed.
Get guarantees for the conduct of the elections scheduled for the end of December in Libya: such a result would already be a success for the lively German diplomacy, 18 months first conference, to organize a new edition called “Berlin II”. The only important difference this time: the Libyan actors will attend the meeting.
Still far
Germany is pleased that progress has been made in recent months, reports our correspondent in Berlin,Pascal Thibaut. There is a ceasefire between the internationally recognized regime in Tripoli and Khalifa Haftar’s forces in the east. A unity government between these two rival factions was also formed and oil recovery resumed.
But this progress is mainly due to Turkey’s support for the site in Tripoli. And the commitments made at the first conference in Berlin by Ankara and Moscow to withdraw the forces they sent there have remained a dead letter. Countries and institutions remain.
In addition, the supply of weapons and the arrival of mercenaries has never stopped: “those who last undertook in Berlin to withdraw their troops did not respect their words,” the commander lamented. German UN diplomacy, according to the UN, about 20,000 Russians, Chadians, Sudanese, Syrians and Turks. Libya is still unstabilized and a new conflict could break out at any time.
Warranty selection
A minimum withdrawal, for example, of Syrian mercenaries, would already be a success at this new conference. “If we want the Libyans to be able to enjoy self-determination,” the German foreign minister said this week, these foreign forces must leave.
As for the guarantees at the end of December election, they must not, if proclaimed, remain a dead letter. Doubts remain as to the real will of the authorities in place to see this election take place.
Libyan politicians accuse the current leadership, led by Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, of wanting to seize power, so the main goal of this summit will be to ensure that the presidential and legislative elections are held on 24 December.
Jalel Harchaoui, Researcher for the Global Initiative, on the challenges of the conference
The hidden goal of this summit is to truly reaffirm the successful side of past UN efforts; to show that Abdel Hamid Ddeibah’s interim government is a good idea and that it is temporary, that there will be elections this year.
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