The head of the UN-recognized Libyan Government of National Accord (KES), Fayez al-Saraj, and his opponent, General Khalifa Haftar, head of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LES) and Moscow has agreed to a ceasefire, a top Libyan official has announced.
The signing of the agreement will pave the way for the resumption of the political process in Libya, said the President of the Council of State (an institution similar to that of the Senate), based in Tripoli, Khaled al-Masri, in statements to the Libyan television network. al Ahrar.
Messri said he would accompany Saraj to Moscow, where he will meet with General Haftar and the speaker of the Libyan-based parliament, Agila Saleh. In a short speech to the people, Saraj urged the Libyans to "turn the page". "I call on all Libyans to turn the page on the past, reject the conflict and unite so that the country can move towards 'stability and peace,'" he said.
The ceasefire agreement, initiated by Turkey and Russia, was already in force in Libya on Sunday, after more than nine months of deadly fighting at the gates of the capital, Tripoli, amid growing concerns about the internationalization of the conflict.
General Khalifa Haftar, whose forces have been trying unsuccessfully to seize Tripoli since April 2019, has assured that his forces will abide by the ceasefire agreement shortly before midnight. Saraj then announced a ceasefire. However, during yesterday, the two camps blamed each other for many violations of the ceasefire.
Messri said the Moscow agreement would provide for "forces to oversee the implementation" of the ceasefire agreement, but did not specify what nationality the forces would be and what their mission would be. Saraj said in a statement that he was ready to order the resumption of operations by paramilitaries who swear allegiance to his government if the "attacker" violates the ceasefire.
However, he added that "we must all understand that our differences must be resolved democratically, through dialogue in which dictatorial forms of power have no place." The prime minister said he had agreed to a ceasefire "to prevent further Libyan bloodshed". Turkey assured yesterday that the ceasefire was generally observed.