News / North Africa

'Germany plans to hold Libya summit on January 19'

Monday, 13 January 2020 3:50 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 13 January 2020 3:56 PM ]

Fighters loyal to the UN-recognized Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) patrol an area south of the Libyan capital Tripoli on January 12, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

Germany has decided to hold a summit in the capital Berlin aimed at promoting peace and stability in Libya, two participants say.

The summit planned for January 19 comes amid long-running division in Libya between the country’s two rival governments of forces loyal to general Khalifa Haftar and the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) under Libya's Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj.

Since last April, tensions escalated further following clashes between the two factions over control of the capital Tripoli.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the summit on Saturday, saying that the aim is to give Libya the chance of becoming a sovereign and peaceful country.

She also said the United Nations would lead the talks, adding that Libya's warring parties should play a major role in order to find a solution for the future of the war-ravaged country.

This is while the Turkish and Russian presidents have urged a ceasefire in Libya by January 12 following a meeting in Istanbul on January 8, with the GNA welcoming the ceasefire call and saying it was ready for a return to the political process.

On Monday, Libya's head of High Council of State Khaled al-Mechri said the two rivals are expected to sign a ceasefire agreement in Moscow, adding that the signing of the agreement will pave the way for the revival of the political process.

Libya fighters patrol south of Tripoli as fragile truce agreed

The head of Libya

Since 2014, Libya has been divided between two rival camps: one based in the eastern city of Tobruk, and the other, the UN-recognized government of Sarraj, in the capital, Tripoli.

The Turkish government is among those who support the GNA in Tripoli. Ankara recently deployed 35 troops in Tripoli to that end.

Libya has been the scene of chaos since 2011, when former dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled from power after an uprising and a NATO military intervention.

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