Buoyed by their recent military victories in western Libya, GNA forces have launched an offensive to capture other opposition strongholds. Photo:Stringer/EPA
Conflicting parties in Libya called to ceasefire by EU
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily | JUNE 11th 2020
The ongoing war in Libya was urged to draw a ceasefire agreement between the two conflicting parties by the European Union's top diplomat, in hopes of engaging in peaceful negotiations that could spare the country any more casualties.
The recent weeks of conflict in Libya have seen a great turning point in the tides of war. The two opposing coalitions have seen their fair share of losses and victories, in the years of increasingly complex conflicts that have arisen from the eve of rebellion. With the recent development of Turkish drones having assisted in driving Eastern Libyan forces away from Tripoli this month, the stakes had been severely raised after Russia was said to have been supporting the forces with warplanes.
The internationally recognised government of Fayez al-Sarraj has seen victory recently in recent weeks, with its forces having successfully driven back an assault by the renegade commander Khalifa Haftar on Tripoli, the capital.
The Libyan civil war is one that has partitioned the North African country for years now, to the point where both coalitions have seen backing from various foreign states with their own individual stakes and agendas behind their backing. As a result, the EU feels the conflict has gone on long enough, with innocent people often paying the price in the wake of tension.
Al Jazeera
Following Germany’s increased diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the war and bloodshed, the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, had made a joint statement with the foreign ministers of Italy, France and Germany, on Tuesday. The statement called for a ceasefire with the two opposing coalitions, as well as the withdrawing of all mercenaries, military equipment, as well as foreign forces. The statement specifically urged “all Libyan and International parties to effectively and immediately stop all military operations.”
The EU are not the only ones looking for a solution, however. “Some agreements” had recently been made with United States president Donald Trump, that could potentially usher in a “new era” in the Libyan civil war, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkish support of the government of Fayez al-Sarraj is no secret. Their long time backing of the Government of National Accord (GNA) is largely what helped change the course of the war overtime. President Erdogan went on to say that the GNA will continue in their fight to go on and seize the both the coastal city of Sirte, as well as the Jufra airbase further South.
“Now the goal is to take over the whole Sirte area and get it done. These are areas with the oil wells, these are of great importance,” Erdogan said. He went on to comment about Russian President Vladimir Putin and his country’s involvement in the civil war, stating that “They have Pantsirs there, they sent 19 warplanes to Libya. After talking with him, we can plan ahead.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who’s recently had discussions about the fate of Libya with Chancellor Angela Merkel, had come forth with the proposition of a new ceasefire agreement after the GNA won a string of swift victories over Haftar's forces.
The offensive to capture Sirte has already been launched by the GNA, with current battles concentrated thus far on the coastal city's Western and Southern fronts. Given their recent victories and heightened morale, it’s unlikely that they’ll give up the fighting positions anytime soon.
By Patryk Krych | © The World Daily 2020
