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Libya’s two rival governments are expected to endorse a UN-brokered unity government following a meeting Sunday on neutral territory in Morocco.
The North African nation, beset by chaos, instability and violence since Col. Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown in 2011, had been split into two governments, one based in Tripoli and one in the eastern port city of Tobruk. The government in Tobruk is recognized by the international community.
The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) has exploited the fractured government to establish a presence in several Libyan towns.
The Tobruk-based parliament and Tripoli-based parliament, as well as independent factions, met on June 28 in Skhirat, Morocco. UN envoy Bernardino Leon said all factions are expected to sign on to an agreement by July 2.
“After all these nine months of work we just have two, three issues and this is what the parties are going to discuss tomorrow and after tomorrow,” Leon said on June 29.
“The idea is to be back on Wednesday and to have our next meeting on Thursday. And on Thursday we will try to initialize the agreement.”
An agreement at this time is seen as crucial as international pressure for a deal increased after rising jihadist attacks in the region, including the June 26 massacre in Tunisia in which 38 people, mostly British tourists, were killed.
According to Tripoli parliament representative Saleh Al-Makhzoum: “Today’s meeting was hopeful and it included much rapprochement. The UN exerted much effort to bring us together.”
Abu-Baker Baira, representative of the Tobruk-based parliament, said: “In general, there is an agreement on most of the issues. This meeting will be summed up by a UN statement… The UN is to issue a written document to be signed by all sides ready for discussion.”
Rival factions expected to sign UN agreement on Libyan unity government added by World Tribune on
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