Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received Monday a message from UN Special Envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon, praising Egypt’s efforts in “supporting the causes of reaching a political solution between factions in Libya”.
Leon called for uniting rival Libyan groups, who met in the Skhirat negotiations, to resolve the crisis in Libya, form a government, and confront terrorism. According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the UN official affirmed Egypt’s role in the upcoming period on the Libyan scene.
The next period is expected to witness discussions concerning the names of possible candidates for the new Libyan government. Libya has been caught in a civil war since a broad alliance of Islamist militias, called Libya Dawn, took over the capital Tripoli, reinstated the old General National Congress (GNC) and forced the elected parliament to flee, along with its government, to the eastern Libyan city of Beyda near Tobruk.
Another parliament was elected, and recognised by the international community. It was forced to operate in the eastern city of Tobruk, after Tripoli was taken over by their rivals, with the Tobruk parliament then forming a cabinet headed by Al-Thinni.
A new front in the war recently opened, with “Islamic State”-affiliates gaining ground in multiple parts of the country. The radical militants fight against both of the already warring sides. The local Islamists, named Majlis Al-Shura, declared a Holy War on IS-affiliated groups after a Majlis leader was killed earlier last month.
