Rival Libyan governments meet to discuss unity government UN draft plan

Talks to form a unity government in Libya resumed in Skhirat Morocco resumed on Friday June 26. The UN special envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon, provided the two rival governments with the 4th draft of a unity government plan prior to the meeting.

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The meeting is taking place nearly three weeks after Leon had provided the two sides with the draft. The Tripoli government was positive from the beginning but suggested an amendment that would give some recognition to the Supreme Court decision back in November that ruled the elections for the rival House of Representatives (HoR) in Tobruk were unconstitutional and the Tobruk-based parliament should be dissolved. The internationally-recognized government in Tobruk has always rejected the ruling and the international community has paid no attention either. The UN said it was studying the matter after the decision. It has said nothing about it since. The Tripoli amendment will not be acceptable to the HoR representatives. I expect the amendment might be used as a negotiating tool to extract concessions from Tobruk. Samir Ghattas, spokesperson for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that he hoped that this would be the final session of the unity talks. That same hope was expressed at the last meetings.

The Tobruk government at first simply rejected the fourth draft entirely. No doubt it was pressured by western powers to approve the draft and continue with the talks. The government at first was split upon whether it would continue with the talks but eventually agreed to attend after proposing amendments that would in effect take away any significant political power from the Tripoli government. There is no way the Tripoli government can accept the Tobruk amendments. More details of the amendments and their significance can be found in this article.The HoR would be the sole legislative body and the State Council would be reduced to an advisory role with no power to block legislation if the Tobruk amendments were accepted. The Tripoli representatives would have far less than a majority in the Council even at that. Nevertheless Leon said:"We are getting closer to a solution. Obviously, the fact that all the participants in the dialogue have accepted the fourth draft as a basis for a final solution is extremely encouraging."Amendments proposed by Tobruk cannot possibly be accepted by Tripoli since they would render the Tripoli government completely impotent. The Tripoli amendment can never be accepted by Tobruk either since Tobruk does not even recognize the legitimacy of the decision. The acceptance of both of the fourth draft as a basis for negotiation does nothing to solve a continuing conflict about the nature of the unity government.

Mattia Toaldo of the European Council on Foreign Relations had a more realistic assessment:"It is as complicated as it has ever been, but now there is a solution that takes into account the complications. Local ceasefires cannot hold for long absent of a national agreement."It remains to be seen whether there actually is a solution. The ceasefires Toaldo refers to were negotiated between the Tripoli government and various militia in the west with which they have fought. The UN was not involved.

Leon realizes that any political solution is possible only if there is a parallel military solution. He intends to meet with the military forces of each side. However, he met with the Misrata militia without ever clearing the issue with the official military of the Tripoli government. This resulted in a complaint to the UN by the Tripoli government. Leon has yet to meet with the military of the Tobruk government. The head of that military, Khalifa Haftar, has said many times he would never agree to a ceasefire with the Tripoli militias. Leon cannot even go to Tobruk. Last time he went his plane could not land because of protesters. He is to meet representatives of the Libyan military in Cairo. Khalifa Haftar's name is not even mentioned even though he is the most important person in the armed forces of Tobruk. Haftar thinks that there is a military solution to the problem of a divided government and that is his Operation Dignity that began in May 2014 and continues to this day with the support of the Tobruk government. The UN manages to somehow ignore all these relevant facts. How do you negotiate a ceasefire with someone who refuses to negotiate with the other forces, that is Libya Dawn. He calls them terrorists to be defeated. Leon so far has reported only that he met with the Misrata militia as part of the parallel military meetings.

Tripoli and Tobruk Libyan governments both object to EU plans to combat trafficking of migrants

The head of the internationally-recognized Libyan government's air force warned European countries that any ships entering the Tobruk government's territorial waters without permission will be targeted by air strikes.

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The warning by Saqr Al-Jaroushi came as European Foreign Ministers agreed yesterday that they will launch a naval operation to combat people bringing thousands of migrants across the Mediterranean to Europe usually Italy or Malta. The European Union has yet to gain consent for operations within Libyan coastal waters from the internationally recognized government. Much of the coast is in areas in the west of Libya controlled by the Tripoli or GNC government. The EU does not have their permission either. Al-Jaroushi said: "Any vessel found in Libyan waters without previous cooperation or permission will be targeted by the air force." The Tripoli or National Salvation Government(SG), as it calls itself, also expressed concern about the plan. Given that the EU expressed concern about obtaining consent for the operation from the two governments, it is surprising that it would go ahead even on a limited basis.

The Salvation Government Ministry of the Interior issued a press release on the issue:The Ministry indicated that the EU’s operation could be of bad effects since there was no previous coordination with the SG and because of Libya’s status quo, pointing out that Libya will not shoulder responsibility for financial commitments to the operation or for the hazards facing the immigrants’ lives neither in the sea nor in shelter centers on Libya’s land.

The press release called for explaining the kind of measures that the operation will follow regarding the interception of the immigrants..There should be some effective measures that guarantee the eradication of this phenomenon taking into account that Libya is currently suffering from a number of crises, let alone that any operation must adhere to Libya’s sovereignty by asking for approval from the specialized authorities.” The Ministry concluded.

Unlike the Tobruk government, the Tripoli government did not threaten air attacks against any ship that entered their coastal waters.

The EU initiative will apparently be limited to intelligence-gathering by submarines, warships, drones, and helicopters since it wants UN support for wider operations and also permission from Libyan authorities. The wider plan is to disrupt the trafficking business, and to capture and destroy their ships, perhaps even in Libyan territorial waters.

The UN is attempting to have the two rival Libyan governments agree to a unity government and a ceasefire. There is no news emanating from the UN on what is happening. The UN special envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon, hoped to have an agreement by the beginning of Ramadan that started last Thursday. The Tripoli government complained that Leon had gone to Misrata to talk with militia commanders there without getting permission from the government. It appears that there may be a split within Libya Dawn with a new force being assigned to provide security to Tripoli and the surrounding area. It is quite foolish and unethical for Leon to apparently try to deal with the military without the permission of the government. The head of the Tobruk armed forces, Khalifa Haftar has said many times that he will never sign a cease fire with Tripoli militia or negotiate with them. There is no word of Leon talking to Haftar. In May 2014, Haftar launched Operation Dignity to defeat Islamist militias in Libya, including those defending the rival government. The operation continues to this day. It is supported by the Tobruk government.

CIA-linked General Hafter may sabotage any LIbyan peace agreement

UN envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon, proposed a unity government composed of a three-person presidential council but it also would incorporate the House of Representatives of the Tobruk-based internationally recognized government.

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Leon said that his plan "gives the Tripoli government to have very important participation". Actually, the Tripoli government would give up any claim to legitimacy while recognizing that of the Tobruk government. Up to now the Tripoli government has claimed legitimacy and that view was supported by the Libyan Supreme Court. On November 6th last year, the Supreme Court ruled that June elections last year were unconstitutional and the Tobruk-based House of Representatives(HoR) should be dissolved. If the Tripoli government actually agrees to the UN proposal it would represent a huge concession. It is not clear how the main militia associated with the Tripoli government, Libya Dawn, would fit into this scenario.

Leon claimed: “My impression is that the majority of people from both sides view this as positive.” As often seems to be the case, Leon's optimism appears to have little relation to realty. Representatives of the Tobruk government rejected the proposal. Ahmed Wahidi a member of the HoR said: “We provided the UN representative our vision of the new government and its roles, and asked him to agree on this vision among the different parties, and he did not do that. This road map has been issued not by the negotiators chosen by the parliament . . . nor by the parliament itself. It was made by the UN.”

Leon ignores the fact that the Tobruk government and the commander of its armed forces bombed the Tripoli airport twice just before talks began. The last time the bombing delayed the departure of the Tripoli representatives causing the postponement of the talks for a day. Shortly before the last round of talks Haftar started an offensive south of Libya meant to take back the capital from the Tripoli government. Leon seems in a state of denial about Haftar's obvious contempt for the whole dialogue process: "Nowhere was this clearer than on Friday 20 March, when a military offensive was declared on the same day in which talks were due to resume in Morocco. The eastern-based, internationally recognised government of Abdullah al-Thinni and its “top military commander” Khalifa Haftar stated that the goal of the offensive was to recapture Tripoli."

Haftar dismissed the peace dialogue as talks with terrorists. He takes not just radical groups such as the Islamic State to be his enemies but all his opponents. Haftar will no doubt refuse any power sharing agreement that has any representation from Islamist groups but without such representation the Tripoli government will not be able to convince its own government to accept the unity government.

Haftar has the backing of the UAE and Egypt in his offensive against Islamists. While the US the UK and others may emit bleats of dissent from time to time and refuse to support lifting the arms embargo imposed on Libya until there is a unity government, this is unlikely to deter Haftar. Haftar has bombed his own people including civilian airports with impunity a number of times. If Gadaffi had done this there would cries for foreign intervention to protect the people. Yet, in spite of the Libyan Supreme Court claiming that the Tobruk government is unconstitutional and even though the commander of the Tobruk government had a warrant out for his arrest at one time for attempting a coup, the Tobruk government is still recognized internationally. To add to the irony the present prime minister of the Tobruk government was interim prime minister in the government that Haftar tried to overthrow but now that same al-Thinni has made Haftar commander of his forces.

To radical Islamists such as the Islamic State, it is crystal clear that there is no hope for dialogue and a peaceful solution. They want all Islamists to join them against both Haftar's forces and Libya Dawn which refuses to accept their radical ideology. While forces from Libya Dawn are fighting to regain control of the city of Sirte from the Islamic State, Haftar is busy attacking Libya Dawn rather than the Islamic State. Libya Dawn may very well decide its forces in Sirte need to be redeployed to defend Tripoli. The Islamic State will no doubt take advantage of this situation.

Libya factions agree to hold more peace talks

Tripoli - Mainstream media seem uninterested in what is happening in Libya unless it involves attacks by the Islamic State, with foreigners, especially Americans, being killed, or anything involving US politicians like Hilary Clinton. For some time there has been a political crisis in Libya, with one government in Tripoli supported by Libya Dawn militia among others, and the other internationally-recognized government in Tobruk supported by CIA-linked General Khalifa Haftar. The opposing militia have been clashing ever since last May, when Haftar announced Operation Dignity, and tried to dissolve the General National Council but only managed to burn down the parliament. The UN, through the untiring efforts of UN special envoy to Libya, Bernadino Leon, has long been attempting to bring the feuding groups together in a dialogue. Earlier in January some talks were finally successful although neither representatives of the Tripoli government nor the Libya Dawn militias participated. After the talks, Libya Dawn announced a unilateral ceasefire followed two days later by the Tobruk government also announcing a ceasefire, but with the caveat that terrorists would continue to be pursued. Haftar continued his attacks on militia associated with the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, a group that had ruled most of Benghazi for some time until Haftar's recent offensive against them. Haftar's militia also seized the Benghazi branch of the Central Bank of Libya.  The United Nations Support Mission In Libya (UNSML) recently issued a report after two days of discussion on Monday and Tuesday of this week. The parties are simply referred to as "participants" with no mention that some were from the Tobruk government. Others were from areas held by the Tripoli government and some were elected in the elections last June, but have not been attending the House of Representatives meetings. The UN statement does not mention the Libyan Supreme Court ruling on November 6th last year declaring the elections last June were unconstitutional and the House of Representatives should be dissolved. There is no mention in the statement that no representatives of the Tripoli government attended nor the main militia of that government Libya Dawn. Leaving out crucial items such as this is almost de rigueur in UN statements.  The dialogue included discussion of the formation of a "consensual national unity" government that would ensure unity of the country and state institutions. Discussions also encompassed the mandate of the government, how decisions would be made, and how members would be selected. The group also discussed what guarantees the international community might give to carry out the tasks and in dealing with those obstructing the political and security process. Haftar has many times obstructed the process, by bombing Tripoli, and carrying out his Operation Dignity but this has been supported by the Tobruk government. The most that has happened is UN complaints about his actions. It is quite unlikely that any action will be taken against Haftar since he is a champion of ridding Libya of Islamists. The participants want to speed up the process to reach a consensus on the national unity government. This would include a permanent ceasefire as well as monitoring mechanisms.  The participants mentioned withdrawal of armed groups from cities particularly the capital. Do the armed forces of the Tobruk government count as "armed groups" or only militia. Haftar's militia is now regarded as absorbed into the Tobruk government armed forces and Haftar has been "called up" out of retirement to serve. The statement called on all sides in the conflict to abide by the agreement to stop military operations announced by the parties — again no mention of who actually announced the ceasefire. Nor is there any mention of the Tobruk government's exception for action pursuing terrorists. Haftar continued his battle in Benghazi and even seized the Benghazi branch of Libya's Central Bank. None of this is worth mentioning. Of course the participants were unanimous in rejecting terrorism and even mentioned a specific action, the attack on a hotel in Tripoli. There are specific items apparently that can be mentioned. The attack the statement notes caused Libyan and foreign casualties. No details are given, this would be against UN protocol, which is to provide the least amount of information possible. The Islamic State is not mentioned as claiming responsibility for the attack. There were 10 killed, one who was French and also an American. This is probably what makes it worth mentioning. The 600 casualties caused by Haftar's Operation Dignity offensive in Benghazi are not worth a mention.  Another meeting involving representatives of municipal councils of both towns and cities was held last Wednesday and is reported on here. Further meetings are planned that would include representatives of armed groups, political parties and societal and tribal forces. The statement concludes with this bromide: The Mission emphasizes that the dialogue is an inclusive and transparent process driven by the Libyan national interest. It is not clear what is supposed to be transparent about the process. The participants in the dialogue process agreed to transfer talks to Libya. The Tripoli government, the General National Council, announced that it would attend the next talks. After Haftar attacked the Central Bank in Benghazi they had announced they would not attend. They are now prepared to meet in any Libyan city.  However, they set out conditions for participation: Limiting the delegates to the talks; No dialogue with “wanted people”; Compliance with the Supreme Court ruling of 6 October, 2014; and Respect for the Constitutional Declaration. Congress also indicated that it would not accept anything that had already been decided in Geneva because its representatives had not been there. The reference to "wanted people" is probably intended to refer to Khalifa Haftar. There was a warrant issued for his arrest that was still in force when the present Tobruk Prime Minister, Abdullah al-Thinni was Prime Minister under the GNC. A court also issued another warrant for his arrest after Haftar bombed a Tripoli airport. The GNC accepts the Supreme Court decision, which would make the Tobruk government illegitimate — although not according to the defenders of the House of Representatives interpretation, as relayed by the Libya Herald. The Libya Herald has the date wrong, the ruling was on November 6. Neither government recognizes the legitimacy of the other and it was never expected that they would dialogue directly. The GNC people could attend the dialogue with the discussion back and forth through other participants. Even Iranian TV with its Irish expert gets on the Islamic State big deal bandwagon as part of the appended video.

Internationally-recognized Libyan government bombs its own oil tanker killing two

The Libyan Air Force bombed an oil tanker operated by Greece but leased by the Libyan National Oil Company(NOC) killing two members of the crew.

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A spokesperson for the Libyan military said that the movements of the ship in the port of Derna aroused suspicions. Derna is governed by radical Islamists.The NOC claimed that the ship had been delivering fuel to industrial facilities and that authorities had been kept informed of this. However, military authorities said that the ship had been asked to stop twice but refused to do so. Colonel Ahmed Mesmari said the tanker was targeted because it had failed to submit to an inspection before entering the port. He claims the vessel was to dock at a power plant but instead took a different route that entered a "military zone".

This is not the first time that the Libyan military has attacked Derna. Last year it bombed the city several times targeting militant groups there. When Gadaffi did this sort of thing he was said to be bombing his own people and western countries were quick to denounce the actions and even mounted an international campaign to create a no-fly zone supposedly to protect civilians but actually intended to degrade Gadaffi's armed forces and eventually help the rebels produce regime change. Don't expect this to happen this time around. The internationally recognized government in Tobruk has bombed Tripoli numerous times including the one functioning airport. CIA-linked General Khalifa Haftar whose Operation Dignity involved attacking and burning the parliament buildings, produced the backlash that now sees a rival government based in Tripoli ruling much of the country. Now he is heading the attack on the Tripoli government with the blessing of the Tobruk government. The prime minister Abdullah Al-Thinni was also prime minister of the parliament during the Operation Dignity attack on the former parliament. He then called the action illegal and a warrant was put out for Haftar's arrest. Now Haftar has the green light from this same Al-Thinni to liberate Benghazi and Tripoli. The UN has called for the attacks and bombings to stop but to no avail. Don't expect western countries to do anything except perhaps intervene on the side of the Tobruk government as France would like to do and Egypt and the UAE are already doing. On November 6th, the Libyan Supreme Court declared that the June elections for the House of Representatives (HoR) were unconstitutional and that the HoR parliament in Tobruk should be dissolved. The Tobruk government immediately rejected the decision. This is in contrast to the reaction to the Supreme Court decision when the Islamist supported Prime Minister for the Libyan Parliament, Ahmed Maiteg, was declared to have been illegally elected. This decision left Al Thinni as the recognized prime minister of Libya. The defeated Islamist candidate accepted the decision. Al Thinni and his government welcomed that decision.

The UN envoy to Libya, Bernadino Leon, has for some time been attempting to gather the conflicting parties together to try to find a political solution to the crisis.There was to be a dialogue originally set for January 6th somewhere outside of Libya that would seek a peaceful solution to the conflict but now that dialogue has been postponed indefinitely: The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Sunday indefinitely postponed the conference of the Libyan dialogue among the country's political parties, which was set to be held on Jan. 5, according to a Libyan parliament member. Expect the internationally-recognized Libyan government in Tobruk to continue to bomb its own people with at most a few bleats of disapproval from the UN and perhaps even from some western countries.

The drumbeat stressing the narrative of Libya as a danger to the whole region because of the presence of radical Islamists in the country will increase in volume. This narrative fits in perfectly with General Khalifa's claim that his opponents are Islamic terrorists. We have heard that refrain once before from one Colonel Gadaffi:Muammar Gaddafi's insistent claim that al-Qaida is behind the Libyan uprising – made in all his public appearances since the crisis began – has been dismissed at home and abroad as propaganda. But Gaddafi's preoccupation with the jihadi group is genuine and reflects years of repression and counter-terrorist co-operation, which has enhanced his value to the US and other western governments. Of course, there is no denying there are radical Islamists in Libya in fact some of the same ones who were there when Gadaffi ruled. However now as then the opponents of the Libyan government are of many different political stripes. What they all have in common is opposition to the recognized government. The only difference this time around is that most in the west and in the Arab world would like to see the Tobruk government stay in power rather than support regime change. What could be better than a government with a CIA-linked general, Khalifa Haftar, being head of a campaign that he claims will rid Libya of Islamist terrorists?

New UN sponsored peace talks on Libya scheduled for January 6

Peace talks held under UN auspices in September in Ghadames made virtually no progress. There are now two rival governments supported by rival military forces. The new talks are scheduled for January 6.

The UN envoy to Libya, Bernadino Leon, has reported to the UN Security Council that the two main rival groups have agreed to a road map designed to dampen the conflict that has split the country into warring factions and governments. The Tripoli government has as prime minister, Omar al-Hassi, while the internationally recognized government that was elected in June is located in the far east in the city of Tobruk with the prime minister, Abdullah al-Thinni. The militia of CIA-linked General Khalifa Haftar is now merged with the Libyan armed forces and the Tobruk government has made him head of the armed forces. On November 6th the Libyan Supreme Court declared that the June elections were unconstitutional and that the Tobruk government should be dissolved. The Tobruk government rejected the ruling and the international community shows no sign that it is paying any attention to it either.

However, the UN has for the first time invited representatives of the Tripoli government to the peace talks. In some recent statements the UN speaks of parties to the conflict and does not speak specifically of the Libyan government. Chadian ambassador to the UN, Mahamat Cherif, told reporters that the Council urged both parties to accept an immediate cease-fire. The Council was also concerned about the flow of arms into the country. As usual there was no mention of who was supplying arms to which parties. So far neither party has paid any attention to the UN demand for a cease fire as a condition for the success of any dialogue. The Al-Thinni government gave Haftar the green light to retake Benghazi and Tripoli. There have been several bombings of Tripoli including the one functioning airport.

Cherif said that the roadmap contained three points but did not give details. However he did say that one aspect was "a national unity government which would be composed of representatives from the two camps". A representative in the Tobruk House of Representatives, Tarek al-Garoushi said that Leon wants a coalition government to be formed and a second round of peace talks outside of Libya:"Leon arrived in Tobruk on Monday where he met with parliament speaker Aguilah Saleh and the rest of the assembly's leadership.At the meeting, Leon made several suggestions, including the formation of a coalition government that would include the country's warring factions to guarantee a resolution to the crisis. Leon also proposed holding a second round of negotiations outside Libya." The two sides could not agree on a site to meet inside of Libya.

 The UN Support MIssion (UNSMIL) reported that in the recent violence hundreds of people have been killed including 450 in Benghazi alone. There have been 120,000 displaced from the west of the country and 90,00 more from the city of Benghazi. The city had been taken over by Islamist-linked militias but Haftar has recaptured at least part of the city recently. The UN also claims that Libya is facing acute shortages of both food and medicines. A detailed UN report can be found here.Envoy Leon said: “All those suffering in this violence deserve to live in safety with their rights fully protected. I appeal to all Libyan political and military leaders to engage, as a matter of urgency, in a genuine political dialogue to take Libya out of the current crisis." By January 7th we should know whether the UN has had any success this time in promoting dialogue and peace in Libya.