The Libyan National Reconciliation Commission opened its founding forum on Monday in the capital Tripoli with the participation of representatives from the UN and the European Union in the hope of paving the way for general elections at the end of the year.
The forum was attended by Libya’s senior officials, including both Vice-Presidents of the Presidency, Musa al-Koni and Abdullah al-Lafi; Minister of Justice Halima Ibrahim and Minister of Expulsion Ahmed Abu Khuzam – according to a written statement from the Libyan Presidency.
UN Development Program Representative in Libya, Gerardo Noto; The UN humanitarian coordinator, Georgette Gagnon, and the African Union’s representative in Libya, Wahida Ayari, participated in the forum via video link.
At the forum, al-Lafi stressed the importance of national reconciliation, which will pave the way for general elections in December.
Gagnon, for his part, said that the UN supports the comprehensive reconciliation process in Libya as a way to achieve stability in the country.
On Sunday, the Libyan Presidency announced the launch of month-long forums for national reconciliation.
In early April, the Council announced the establishment of a National Reconciliation Commission to establish social peace in Libya.
The Berlin Conference on 23 June
Meanwhile, it was announced on Tuesday that Germany will host a new set of Libyan peace talks on June 23 in Berlin, in which the Libyan transitional government will participate.
The collection aims to unite powers with interests in the North African country and its transitional government.
The meeting is expected to take place at the level of foreign ministers and follows a first conference in Berlin held in January 2020, where leaders agreed to respect an arms embargo and push Libya’s warring parties to reach a full ceasefire. Germany has tried to act as an intermediary.
The countries involved in the process include the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with Italy, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Berlin conference marks the first time the Libyan transitional government is represented at such an event, the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It will “take stock of progress” since the first meeting in Berlin and discuss “the next step needed for sustainable stabilization”, it added.
“The main focus will be on the preparations for the national elections scheduled for December 24 and on the withdrawal of foreign troops and mercenaries from Libya as agreed in the ceasefire,” the ministry said in a statement. “In addition, steps towards the creation of united Libyan security forces will be discussed.”
The UN chief recently reiterated his demand for the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya and an end to the violations of the UN arms embargo, saying that these are “critical elements” for lasting peace in the North African country and region.
Libya has been crushed by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising overthrew the long-running dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 and divided the oil-rich North African country between a UN-backed National Agreement (GNA) in the capital Tripoli and rival authorities based in the east, each with support of armed groups and foreign governments.
While Turkey had been GNA’s main supporter along with Qatar, illegal East-based forces loyal to Putist general Khalifa Haftar were backed by Russia, France, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
In April 2019, the warlord Haftar and his forces launched an offensive to try to capture Tripoli. His 14-month campaign collapsed after Turkey intensified its military support for the UN-backed government. A ceasefire agreement in October that included a requirement for all foreign fighters and mercenaries to leave Libya within 90 days led to an agreement on the transitional government and elections in December.
The UN estimated in December that there were at least 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya, including Syrians, Russians, Sudanese and Chadians.
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