News Analysis: Cairo mediation advocates rapprochement between Libyan rivals

Concerned about the security of its western border, Egypt has hosted a series of meetings in recent months to find a way to end Libya's political turmoil.

MEDIATION MEETINGS TO HEAL DIVISIONS

On Friday, an Egyptian committee on the Libyan crisis met with the country's southern lawmakers as part of a flurry of meetings to reach an inclusive political agreement for the crisis.

"Egypt's mediation is able to achieve rapprochement between the Libyan conflicting sides," said Tariq Fahmy, a professor of political sciences at American University in Cairo.

"With recurrent meetings, we can see growing harmonious relations between Libyan unity government Chief Fayez Sarraj and his rival, military strongman Khalifa Haftar," Fahmy told Xinhua.

It needs time to dismantle the elements of the crisis, and Egypt, according to the expert, could ease the tensions because it "stands at equal distance from all parties in Libya."

On Dec. 26, 2015, Cairo officially announced its recognition and support for the presidency council of the Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Fayez Sarraj, which emanated from the Libyan Political Agreement signed on Dec. 17, 2015, under the auspices of the United Nations in Skhirat, Morocco.

At the same time, Cairo provides direct support for Sarraj's rivals in Tobruk, particularly the commander-in-chief of the armed forces Khalifa Haftar, who Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called in April 2016 the savior of Libya from terrorism.

Formed in Aug. 2016, Egyptian Committee on Libya has exerted tremendous efforts to reduce the disharmony between the two sides in Libya, and according to the political professor, there have been positive reactions from the GNA and Haftar over the role Egypt plays.

"Egypt is open to the two sides, as it supports Haftar and the Libyan army on ground. Egypt has been seeking to lift the ban of providing Haftar with arms, and at the same time Cairo hosted Sarraj to heal the differences for several times," he explained.

On Feb. 15, Libyan factions agreed on an Egypt-brokered roadmap to heal divisions. The deal came after months of diplomatic efforts by Egypt, culminating with visits by Prime Minister Sarraj of the UN-backed government in Tripoli and Haftar, the military commander supported by eastern factions.

They agreed to set up "a joint committee" tasked with forming a power-sharing arrangement as constitutional amendments to the deal that set up the unity government.

Besides the meetings hosted by Cairo, Egypt will take part in a ministerial meeting along with Tunisia and Algeria in Tunis on Sunday, and there will be another meeting for the three countries on March 1 to discuss the Libyan crisis.

Libya has been in chaos since the fall of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

SOLUTION AT DISTANCE OF TWO BOW-LENGTHS

The Libyan crisis is complicated with different interests sought by different parties, Fahmy said, noting Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria's top diplomats' meeting was important to pressure the Libyan rivals.

Sarraj and Haftar did not meet face to face during the talks in Cairo, signaling the depth of mistrust between the two rivals in Libya, Fahmy added.

However, Gamal Salama, a politics professor at Suez Canal University, said disagreed.

"The disputes between the two sides are not big, and could be contained if tackled as a political conflict," he said.

Egypt is "an unbiased mediator" with good and strong ties with two sides and is very keen to secure its borders from the danger of militants' penetration, the professor noted.

"The solution to the Libyan crisis is at a distance of two bow-lengths or nearer," he said, adding that international powers like the United States, France and Italy advocate the political solution rather than dividing the country.

There are no "big obstacles" to solving the Libyan crisis except for the extremist groups like the Islamic State, according to Fahmy.

From the Libyan side, Mohamed Shahoumy, a member of the GNA, said the Libyan parliament has started its implementation of the Cairo deal's items.

"The deal enjoyed acceptance from all the political and popular blocs in Libya as well as Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist Watan Party," Shahoumy said. Endit