International Crisis Group

Libya’s Tripoli and Tobruk dilemma no nearer to resolution | Nathalie Guibert, Yves-Michel Riols and Hélène Sallon

In Libya, “there are two governments, two parliaments and complete confusion”, the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said earlier this month. On this point, all parties agree. What they can’t agree on is finding the best way forward.

Citing respect for Libya’s national sovereignty, elected representatives, who have taken up residence in the eastern port city of Tobruk, reject the idea of outside intervention, something they had earlier supported. “Some believe that such support would pose even greater problems, particularly with regard to Libyan public opinion, concerned about the risk of another large-scale conflict,” says Issandr el-Amrani, who heads the International Crisis Group’s North African project. The group is an independent, non-governmental organisation committed to preventing and resolving conflict.

At an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Cairo at the start of this year, elected officials urged the international community to arm the Libyan military, confident that this would be sufficient to regain the upper hand in the field.

FULL ARTICLE (via The Guardian)

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