Libyan Leaders Reach Agreement on Ceasefire and Elections

Two main rival leaders in Libya reached an agreement on a ceasefire, presidential and parliamentary elections, and a roadmap to protect Libya from terrorism and human trafficking on Tuesday, August 3. The Associated Press reported this agreement citing the French presidency, which facilitated the agreement between Faiz al-Sarraj, the Prime Minister and head of the Government of National Accord, and General Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army. The report states that Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, held separate meetings with each of them before their session, which was attended by Ghassan Salame, the UN Special Envoy for Libya. Macron stated, "Mr. Sarraj has political legitimacy. Mr. Haftar also has military legitimacy. They have decided to cooperate with each other." The Associated Press further notes that the joint 10-point declaration issued by Sarraj and General Haftar is the first of its kind since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime six years ago, which could potentially limit conflicts in this war-torn country. Among the agreed-upon items are the implementation of a ceasefire in Libya and the formation of armed forces for special anti-terrorism operations. Meanwhile, the French president has stated that it has been agreed that elections will be held in the spring of next year, a promise that Sarraj had previously expressed hope for. Emmanuel Macron said, "The benefits of this reconciliation are significant, especially for the suffering people of Libya who have not had stability in their lives in recent years and have faced the threat of terrorism. The benefits of this reconciliation are also significant for the entire region because if Libya falls, the entire region will be affected, especially neighboring countries." The French president added, "The peace process in Libya is vital for Europe as well because if we fail, the consequences will directly impact our countries in terms of terrorism threats and migration." In recent years, Libya has become a haven for traffickers who transport African migrants from its waters to Europe. Hundreds of migrants have never reached their destination, as their boats sank in the Mediterranean Sea.