18 February 2020

Libya’s UN-recognised government halts ceasefire talks after Haftar forces attack Tripoli’s port

On 18 February, the Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj announced that he is suspending UN-led ceasefire negotiations after Khalifa Haftar’s forces shelled Tripoli’s port, killing three civilians and almost hitting a gas tanker. Earlier in the day, the 5+5 Joint Military Committee (JMC), established at the Berlin Conference, held its second round of talks in Geneva under the supervision of the Secretary-General and Head of UNSMIL Ghassan Salamé. He stated that despite the situation on the ground, where new attacks and incidents take place, “the political process is trying to find a way to go forward”. However, the GNA declared in a statement that “negotiations don’t mean anything without permanent ceasefire guarantees returning the displaced people and the security of the capital and the other cities”. It added that the GNA “will respond firmly to the attack in appropriate timing”. The EU Foreign Affairs Council announced the launch of a new military operation in the Mediterranean, starting on 31 March, with the aim of enforcing the arms embargo imposed on Libya by the United Nations Security Council, which has been systematically violated. Following the failure of UN-sponsored negotiations to implement a ceasefire, Salamé resigned on 2 March. He noted that he “sought for two and a half years to unite Libyans, prevent foreign intervention and preserve the unity of the country”, but “my health no longer allows me to take this much stress”.

 

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