Former UNSMIL Envoy Delivers his Testimony
Tarek Mitri, former UN envoy to Libya (Oct. 2012-Aug. 2014) published a public testimony in which he gave his analysis of the conflict in Libya. The five-page document published in Siyassat Arabiya (Arab Policies) gave an account of the multifacets...
“Resist the Counter-Tourism Response and Consolidated Ennahdha,” experts say
The tragedy at the Bardo National Museum that left over 20 dead on the eve of Tunisia’s celebration of its Independence Day came at a time when the frustration of Tunisians with the poor performance of the political elite in...
Leon’s Race against the Clock in Libya
UNSMIL’s Bernardino Leon has been doubling efforts to reach an agreement at the negotiating table of stakeholders in the Libyan conflict. With a week left before his mandate comes to an end late this month Leon has engaged key political...
Libyan Conflict Actors Meet in Morocco and Algeria
A fresh three-day round of political dialogue took place in Skhirat, Morocco last week under the auspices of UNSMIL. The meeting convened four representatives of the Tripoli-GNC and Tobruq-House of Representatives. According to UNSMIL’s press release the discussions focused on...
Tunis Adopts “Positive Neutrality” towards Libyan Conflict Stakeholders
In the aftermath of aggravation of an already deteriorating situation in Libya, Tunis has apparently judged it wiser to adapt its policy towards the rival governments in Libya (GNC’s Hassi government and HoR’s Thenni cabinet) and adopt “positive neutrality” as...
Increasing Difficulties in the Dialogue Process
UNSMIL’s dialogue efforts has become the latest causality of the aftermath of ISIL’s ruthless execution of 21 Copts in Sirte, and the Egyptian regime’s retaliation air raids on reportedly ISIL assets in Derna, in northeast Libya. The deteriorating security situation...
Habib Essid faces his First Southern Challenge
Prime Minsiter Habaib Essid’s first cabinet meeting on 9 February took place on the backdrop of violent protests in Dheheba and Ben Guerdane on the Tunisian-Libyan border. The protests were triggered by the introduction of a border-crossing tax of 30...
Born Dead: Essid’s Cabinet Fails to Convince
On Friday 23 January, Tunisian PM Habib Essid announced the composition of his government; but by the weekend, it became clear that Essid’s cabinet would not survive a vote of confidence at the National Assembly. First came Ennahdha’s decision not...