France calls for ‘unconditional’ ceasefire in Libya

The French government, which is accused of tacitly supporting Libya’s renegade general Khalifa Haftar, has called for an “unconditional” ceasefire between his militia and government forces near the capital, Tripoli.

Haftar’s forces, calling themselves the Libyan National Army (LNA), launched a deadly campaign last month to conquer Tripoli, where the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj is based.

Fierce fighting has since been raging on between the two sides, with reports of more than 400 people having been killed and thousands injured or displaced.

On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Sarraj in the French capital of Paris and said he advocated a ceasefire.

“Noting that there is no military solution to the Libyan conflict, and to put an end to the military offensive launched toward Tripoli, the President of the Republic encouraged an unconditional ceasefire,” Macron’s office said in a statement after the meeting.

“He stressed the need to protect civilian populations. In this context, the proposal was put forward to delimit a ceasefire line, under international supervision,” it added.

The statement also backed a United Nations (UN) peace plan and general elections in Libya.

In an exclusive interview with France 24, Sarraj had said Haftar was attempting a power grab under the pretext of counter-terrorism operations and had urged a “clearer stance” from Paris toward the Libyan rebel commander.

“Haftar and (his armed groups) only want to control power in Tripoli under the pretext of war on terrorism and militias,” Sarraj said. “What we expect of France, considering their friendship with Libya, is for them to have a clear political position on the situation in Libya in the future.”

The Libyan prime minister had also accused Haftar of ending all hopes for a political settlement to the crisis in the war-torn North African country.

Haftar’s forces are bogged down on the southern outskirts of Tripoli. Fighting has been escalating at night but slowing during the day as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan began this week.

SS