Algeria and Tunisia, whose presidents met Sunday in Algiers, agreed that Libya’s tribal groups could hold meetings to find new peace solutions for Tripoli.
For both Algeria and Tunis, the conflict tearing neighbouring oil-rich Libya apart remains the main concern. To contribute the peace process, Algerian President called for meetings in either the capital of Algeria or Tunisia “with all of Libya’s tribes, to begin a new era for building new institutions, allowing for the organization of general elections and establishment of new foundations of a democratic Libyan state.’’
Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Kais Saied met on Sunday to discuss the latest developments in the North African region. The Algerian national leader Tebboune insisted that any solution to Libya’s conflict should come from Libyans themselves and “protected from foreign interference and weapons flows.’’
For almost a year, fighting among militias, arms and migrant trafficking and extremism in Libya are serious reasons for neighbouring Algeria and Tunisia to offer their assistance in the tribal talks. Both presidents are eager to keep Libya’s lawlessness from further spilling over their borders. As President Tebboune said, any such meetings should have UN backing.
The internal armed conflict in Libya as the threat for the neighbouring countries
Libya is torn between a weak U.N.-recognized administration in the capital of Tripoli overseeing the country’s west, run by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, and the self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar, based in eastern Libya. The bloody conflict between the sides, GNA and LNA, creates unhealthy tension in the region.
PM Sarraj’s administration is backed by Turkey and to a lesser degree Qatar and Italy. Haftar’s forces have received support from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt as well as France and Russia.
Since April 2019, there were several diplomatic plans to restore peace to Libya, but the UN envoy for Libya accuses some states signatories of stepping up weapons deliveries despite the truce efforts.
