Skepticism As Libya Rivals Agree 'Historic' Election Plan

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) invited the leaders to Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron walked away with one real achievement yesterday - bringing together key rival Libyan blocs, as well as regional neighbours seen as exacerbating the conflict, like Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.

However, nothing was actually signed in Paris. Instead, Libya’s rival representatives verbally agreed to a set of promises and dates.

There is a worry that giving the four big Libyan personalities a platform in Paris will only harden the views of other factions in Libya, triggering more divisions among the militias who nominally ally themselves to rival political institutions.

Invited representatives from the key western city of Misrata chose to stay away from the talks. Various militias from the west also said the talks do not represent them.

The success of today’s agreement will rely on whether the rival armed groups allow the elections to take place and then respect the results. The last parliamentary election in 2014 plunged the country into a deeper crisis.




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