GHASSAM Salame, UN’s new envoy to Libya, has endorsed Italy’s drive to stem the flow of migrants leaving the North African nation for Europe. More than 600,000 refugees and other migrants have reached Italy from Libya since 2014. But of every 39 people who survive the perilous journey across the Mediterranean, one dies. In total, at least 2,247 people have died or are missing after trying to cross the sea into Europe via Spain, Italy or Greece this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). There has been a more than 50-percent fall in the number of migrants rescued at sea during July, when compared to the same month in 2016.
But refugees desperately seeking to reach Europe and attendant tragedies are only one aspect of the Libyan problem. Restoring peace and stability to this oil-rich nation is the major challenge awaiting Salame who was appointed in June to head UN operations in that country.
Libya has been beset with conflict and chaos ever since its longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi was overthrown in 2011 in a popular uprising supported by a Western-led NATO air campaign. Now, this country has two main power centers: The UN-backed government of National Accord headed by Fayez Al-Sarraj and the so-called Libyan National Army led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar’s forces, which control a large part of eastern Libya and its oil fields. Complicating the situation are a number of militias owing allegiance to one of the dominant factions or none.
There have been several attempts to bring various factions together in a bid to form a unity government. The last attempt was made by French President Emmanuel Macron who brought the two main rival groups, led by Al-Sarraj and Gen. Haftar, together for face-to-face talks at a summit in Paris in July this year. This was the second meeting between the two in three months. The first took place in Abu Dhabi in May under the auspices of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A joint statement agreed to by both sides called for a ceasefire and holding presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible. But Hafter’s subsequent actions and statements showed that he has no intention of honoring the commitments he made in Paris. He continued to violate ceasefire saying he was fighting terrorists or branding all his opponents terrorists. In this he is supported by US and Egypt who mistakenly believe he is waging a counterterrorism war in Libya. The international legitimacy conferred on him by the Paris summit has helped him win more followers and make territorial gains including control of most of Benghazi, the second city in Libya.
Macron’s approach has also caused tensions inside the European Union and upset Italy. Rome used to take the lead in efforts to bring peace to Libya, its former colony. Italy backs Serraj and views Haftar with skepticism.
French intervention also creates internal divisions in Libya by legitimizing Gen. Haftar whose idea of reconciliation is at variance with that held by all others. This is not the only criticism. In hosting Serraj and Haftar, the French presented the conflict in Libya as a matter concerning only the factions they represent. What is needed are regular follow-up meetings under UN auspices that include all of the parties to the conflict. Only a UN-led political process can bring a semblance of peace and stability to that country.
Right from the beginning, outside powers backing different Libyan factions have played a disruptive role in that country. This is not to deny that some countries have genuine concerns about what has been going on in Libya during the last six years. For example, Libya is pivotal to Egypt’s security and economic interests. Egypt’s long border with this North African country has been porous since 2011, with weapons, militants, and drugs passing back and forth.
