The political deadlock persists in Libya with Faiz al-Sarraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA) unable to move from Tunis to Tripoli, despite al-Sarraj’s assertion that his cabinet will move to Tripoli “within days”, and rumours of ongoing preparations to host the GNA offices at the Arab Maghreb facilities, near the United Nations (UN) offices in Janzour district of Tripoli.

Politically, a session of the House of Representatives (HoR) in Tobruk scheduled for 21 March did not take place for lack of quorum. The pro-Khalifa Hafter bloc continues to block attempts to endorse the GNA, even though United Nations Special Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) seems to consider the endorsement by both rival parliaments – General National Council (GNC) and HoR, as well as the amendment of the Constitutional Declaration – mere formalities that it is willing to overlook. Nevertheless, the European Union (EU) is in the process of imposing sanctions on the HoR president Aguila Salah, the GNC’s president, Nouri Bousehmin, and Prime Minister Khalifa al-Guouil. The 8th meeting of the Libya Neighbouring Countries Conference took place on 22 March in Tunis. In addition to Libya’s neighbours, representatives from the African Union, EU, and UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General attended. They lent support to Sarraj’s GNA, and reiterated their opposition to military intervention in Libya without a request of the GNA, once it assumes office in Tripoli. Observers of Libyan affairs noticed a significant change in the position of Libya’s Neighbouring Countries Conference regarding military intervention this time, in that their opposition is conditioned by a request from the GNA only.

Meanwhile, a consultative meeting of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) kicked off on 17 March, in Oman. Despite the upbeat public relations campaign around the meeting, around 20 members (15 resigned and 6 boycotted) of the 60-member CDA did not attend the meeting. The reality is that, even if all these obstacles are overcome, two issues remain. First, Hafter’s role and future in the political system; and second, how al-Sarraj’s GNA will move to Tripoli without provoking violence in Tripoli.

Links for more information:
Report of UN Panel of Experts on Libya, 9 Mar. 2016, (Summary pages 2-3, Recommendations pages 60-63)
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2016/209
http://unsmil.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3543

Al-Sarraj discusses the GNA’s 3-phase plan


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNLYtoxGDqk
http://www.marsad.ly/en/2016/03/15/final-report-of-the-panel-of-experts-on-libya
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/11/france-pushes-for-eu-sanctions
http://europeansanctions.com/category/libya/
http://www.aps.dz/monde/39038

Posted by lakhdarghettas

Dr. Lakhdar Ghettas Author of Algeria and the Cold War: International Relations and the Struggle for Autonomy (London & NY: IB Tauris, 2018)