Libya: a conference in Paris to breathe new life into the reconciliation process

Libyans gathered in the Place des Martyres in Tripoli on September 24, 2021 © Mahmud TURKIA / AFP

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2 min

The international community is once again in Paris to express its support for the transition in Libya, less than six weeks from a presidential election with uncertain contours.

Co-chaired by France, Libya, Germany, Italy and the UN, this conference is being organized at a time when tensions are growing even within the Libyan interim authorities.

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For the sponsors of this conference, the priority is to avoid postponing the ballot or contesting the results.

Because from Tripoli to Tobruk, the appetites of political opponents are sharpening with the approach of the presidential election.

Those who fear being sidelined are making themselves heard more than ever.

The reconciliation process initiated in 2020 by the international community is running out of steam.

To avoid leading to a new conflict as was the case after the 2014 vote, the international community intends to call on the Libyans to commit to a transparent and as inclusive vote as possible.

The first objective for the French president is to return to the Libyan scene and to attempt an important mediation after the repeated failures of French diplomacy.

Political scientist Hasni Abidi on the objectives of the Paris Conference

Houda Ibrahim

Thursday, November 11, the eastern camp, that of Khalifa Haftar, announced that it had decided to send a first group of 300 mercenaries and foreign fighters, adding to do so at the request of France.

In their press release, the representatives of the ANL affirm that these departures would be done in coordination with their countries and the UN support mission in Libya.

The nationalities of the combatants concerned have not been specified.

No presence of Turkish and Algerian presidents

Another objective of the conference is to involve neighboring countries and those with a presence in the country. Chad and Niger, two neighboring countries of Libya faced like it with instability and insecurity are invited, for the first time, to this new international conference on Libya which will be held at the level of heads of state and governments. An invitation has also been extended to another neighboring country, Algeria, but President Tebboune will not participate. He will be represented.

Another downside, the refusal of the Turkish president to come to Paris on the pretext of the participation of Greece.

On the other hand, the Russian Foreign and Defense Ministers will make the trip.

A meeting with their French counterparts is planned.

Ankara and Moscow are

the two major players

and have the largest number of fighters there.

The participants will adopt a declaration which should help the Libyans to reach the end of the political process, a process "

 irreversible 

" according to Paris.

►Also read: In Libya, confusion and tension on the eve of the international conference in Paris

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  • Libya

  • France

  • Khalifa Haftar

  • Turkey

  • Algeria

  • Niger

  • Chad

  • Russia

  • Diplomacy