In Libya, an extremely sensitive ceasefire started in the night from Saturday to Sunday. Experts suspect that the agreement does not last long due to the precarious situation in the country. German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to seize the ceasefire to start new peace talks in Berlin. Previous conferences failed.
In new discussions, Merkel sees a major role for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. While Erdogan assists the UN-backed Libyan government of Prime Minister Fayez Al Sarraj, Russia stands behind the Libyan National Army (LNA) of General Khalifa Haftar.
The Turkish and Russian governments were already important to reach a ceasefire by calling both fighting parties to a ceasefire. On Saturday evening, the LNA agreed as a final agreement, “but if Sarraj does not respect the truce, we will relentlessly strike back,” said a spokesperson.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly said that he only believes in a truce if the Haftar forces withdraw. That chance seems zero.
‘Russian militias’ help Haftar, Turkey supports Al Sarraj
Ankara ordered 2 January to send troops and military experts to the Libyan capital, Tripoli, to keep the city out of General Haftar’s hands. The warlord has been trying to conquer the city for months to unite the country under his rule. Haftar has already conquered most of Libya with his offensive.
He would have done that with the help of Russian militias. Putin discussed that news during a press conference on Saturday and said that “mercenaries participate in every war.” The troops do not represent the Russian state and are not being paid by us (Russia, ed.), Says Putin.
The country has been battling for power since the death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Both Haftar and Al Sarraj can count on the support of several foreign powers.
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