Second round of Inter-Libyan dialogue set to resume on Monday in Algiers

UN-mediated talks on resolution of the Libyan crisis will resume in Algiers on Monday 13 April, according to the statement of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

“A meeting of Libyan political leaders and political activists facilitated by UNSMIL and hosted by Algeria will convene in Algiers on Monday 13 April 2015… The meeting is a follow-up to an earlier meeting in the Algerian capital on 10-11 March,” UNSMIL said in a statement .

The organization said that a meeting of Libyan tribal leaders will convene at a later date in Egypt, adding that UNSMIL is also reaching out to organize talks between “military, security and armed groups leaders.”

UNSMIL added that a political dialogue is an opportunity for Libyans “to stop the bloodshed and put their country back on the road to stability and prosperity.”

The UN says that the resumed talks will focus on formation of a national unity government as well as security measures. While these are the first talks between the factions hosted in Algeria, last month, it hosted talks of Libyan political figures who had called for an immediate halt to military operations. The UN seems most adept at these calls to stop violence and condemnations of violence. It has even threatened sanctions against those who interfere with the peace process but to no avail.

Libya has been engulfed in violence since the 2011 overthrow of the country’s long- standing leader Muammar Gaddafi. There are currently two rival governments in the Libya, one in Tobruk and one in Tripoli. The forces of the internationally-recognized Libyan government in Tobruk are fighting numerous rebel groups, including extremist ISIS-affiliated groups.

At the most recent Libyan peace talks in Algerian capital, Libyan leaders agreed to combine efforts in a struggle against terrorist groups including the “Daesh” terror group

On Saturday UNSMIL issued a statement condemning the recent upsurge of armed conflict in Libya’s west.

The dialogue between the Libyan political party leaders and political activists under the leadership of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) will resume Monday with the determination to stem the crisis, through a consensus on the preservation of the country’s unity, territorial integrity and the necessary fight against terrorism.

This second round of dialogue, which is held with the support of Algeria, as a facilitator, “focused on the formation of a government of national unity and on the security arrangements,” said Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel.

The Libyan parties at issue meeting on March 10 – 11 in Algiers had rejected any form of foreign interference and pledged to find a political solution to the crisis to preserve the sovereignty of Libya, national unity and territorial integrity.

They opposed all forms of terrorism in Libya and had condemned the terrorist group called “Daesh”, “Ansar al Sharia” and “Al Qaeda,” emphasizing the importance of joint efforts to fight against this scourge.

“A political solution that will end the division and chaos will greatly contribute to the efforts of combating terrorism,” affirmed the Declaration adopted by participants at the first meeting in Algiers.

The talks now incite for “optimism” about reaching a resolution of the political and security crisis in Libya, stressed Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra.

“We are reasonably optimistic and working to ensure that the dialogue between the Libyan brothers succeed in resolving the crisis in Libya,” he said.

“We hope that the Algiers meeting will be a collective move by our Libyan brothers towards an agreement, a national consensus on the establishment of a government of national unity and also on security arrangements to enable the country to evolve and move towards the drafting of a consensual constitution, and the holding of elections in quietude, security and stability,” Mr Lamamra added.

Marked by the participation of Libyan prominent political leaders, party leaders and activists, the dialogue between Libyans stands in a context marked by the deepening of crisis in this country, where both governments and both parliaments are fighting for power.

In a previous statement, Mr Messahel affirmed that Algeria, “which shares with Libya, neighbourhood relations, the fight against colonialism and a common history, could not sit idly by while the Libyan brothers, facing fitna (discord) are experiencing the most dangerous stages threatening their country and unity.”

Furthermore, UN Special Envoy for Libya, Bernardino Leon, welcomed the “success” of the first Algiers meeting, highlighting the convergence of views between Libyans on the “inevitable” path of dialogue for a final settlement of the crisis and the rejection of any military intervention in their country.