Le Monde to the Europeans: Act before Libya turns into a geopolitical nightmare at your doorstep

Europe has no choice but one option, which is to leave its differences aside, unify its ranks and gather its strength, if it wants to prevent a long civil war in Libya that would turn into a geopolitical nightmare on the doorstep of Europe.

This is what Le Monde concluded in its editorial, which summarized the situation in Libya today, stressing that "the Libyan powder keg threatens to turn into an international conflict and a humanitarian catastrophe similar to the one that Syria is currently experiencing."

The newspaper pointed out that the time has come for the international community - especially the Europeans who are turning their eyes away - to meet and take initiatives to try to put an end to this dangerous vortex.

Le Monde saw at the meeting of 11 leaders from countries influencing the Libyan issue in Berlin, Germany this week, a positive step, especially as this meeting adopted a call to move away from "foreign interference in the Libyan armed conflict or the internal affairs of this country," and called for strengthening the current truce agreed upon. The parties to the conflict are the internationally recognized National Accord government, headed by Fayez al-Sarraj and retired Major General Khalifa Hifter.

The newspaper praised this first step, which comes after a dangerous escalation of foreign intervention in this country, and - as expressed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel - is a "small step forward."

In this regard, Le Monde pointed out that the Europeans, whom the Russians and Turks were about to marginalize over the Libyan crisis, had begun to wake up and regain the initiative.

But it highlighted that the Berlin Summit is far from ending the bloody battle for power between the official government in Tripoli and the strongman in eastern Libya, a confrontation that is fueled not only by the geopolitical and oil appetite of the powers of the region, but also the ambiguity of the position of some parties such as France.

She explained that Paris officially supports the Al-Sarraj government, while behind the scenes it supports Haftar, who claims to be the only person who can calm southern Libya, that is, the gateway to the coast of "Islamic terrorism" that Paris is fighting.

The newspaper pointed out that the rebel leader, Haftar, who enjoys great support from multiple parties, has been thwarting international mediation, and he is now threatening Tripoli, thus prolonging a civil war that benefits extremists.

Le Monde called on France to avoid double standards and line up with the European Union’s position to further strengthen it.