Article

2020-08-23 Africa North

Libya ceasefire first step on 'arduous' path to peace

[Al Ahram] A surprise ceasefire announcement by Libya's rival administrations offers a glimmer of hope for peace, but analysts caution scepticism after years of violence and as multiple foreign forces back opposing sides.

Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), based in the west in the capital Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
, and Aguila Saleh, speaker of the eastern-based parliament backed by Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar

...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all. Actually, he is, but slowly...
, each announced a ceasefire on Friday.The leaders, in separate statements, said they wanted to end fighting and hold elections, drawing praise from the UN, the EU and several Arab countries.

Emhemed Shoaeb, a key member of talks that led to the last major agreement in 2015, said the announcement was a step "in the right direction" that showed a "desire to break with the madness" of the past.

European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
diplomatic chief Josep Borrell described it as a "constructive first step forward".

But international pressure has sought to bring Libya's leaders to an agreement several times in past years, and a lasting deal has yet to be reached.

Posted by Fred 2020-08-23 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top
File under: Muslim Brotherhood

#1 Rationally, a peace agreement would result in the division of Libya into two states: Tripolitania in the east, and Cyrenaica in the west, with the south being subject to division. However, such an agreement would solidify the hold the Muslim Brothers and Islamist movements have on Tripolitania, and thus would be a threat to Europe, the Mahgreb and the Sahil. Look for both sides to add armaments and the war should continue in about three weeks. It should be bloodier than ever.

Posted by b 2020-08-23 08:25|| 2020-08-23 08:25|| Front Page Top

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