A consensus found at the UN. The UN Security Council on Wednesday approved, for the first time since the resumption in April of a conflict in Libya, a resolution calling for "a lasting cease-fire" to succeed the fragile truce observed there. since January.
The text, drafted by the United Kingdom, was approved by 14 votes out of 15, Russia having abstained.
It had been the subject of arduous discussions for more than three weeks, illustrating persistent divisions of the international community on the Libyan file in spite of the unity displayed at a summit in Berlin on January 19, in which the Russian presidents and whose countries each support one of the two opposing parties in Libya.
Moscow denies sending mercenaries
The resolution "affirms the need for a lasting ceasefire in Libya, at the earliest opportunity and without preconditions". In this text, London has chosen to maintain the mention of "concern (of the Council) at the increasing involvement of mercenaries in Libya". This mention was originally last week blocked negotiations by Russia, Moscow asking to replace the word "mercenaries" by "foreign terrorist fighters".
Russia has been accused for several months of having supported the transportation to Libya of several thousand mercenaries of the private group Wagner reputed to be close to the Russian presidency, in favor of Marshal Khalifa Haftar who has been seeking since 4 April 2019 to take military possession of Tripoli where sits the Government of national unity (GNA) of Fayez al-Sarraj, recognized by the UN. Moscow has denied any role in the deployment of Russian mercenaries to Libya.
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- Libya