- The proposed plan, called the “Cairo Declaration” outlined a ceasefire starting on the 8th of June
- The absence of representatives of the Government of National Accord (GNA) which the United Nations recognizes as the legitimate Libyan government or its allies, at the conference, raises questions about the proposal
Egypt has unveiled a ceasefire plan to end the years-long civil war in Libya. The plan was announced by the Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, alongside Khalifa Haftar, the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA) and Agila Saleh, the chief of Libya’s allied elected parliament. Addressing a news conference, President Sisi said that the proposed plan called the “Cairo Declaration” outlined a ceasefire starting on 8th of June and the departure of foreign militias from Libya.
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However, the absence of any representatives of the Government of National Accord (GNA) — which the United Nations recognizes as the legitimate Libyan government — or its allies, at the conference raises questions about the proposal. GNA offered no immediate response on the plan. El-Sissi also urged the UN to revive peace talks in Geneva, involving the warring sides, the European Union, the African Union, the Arab League and Libya’s neighbors. He warned against a military solution to the conflict and added that the proposed Cairo plan supported the UN and international efforts to end the conflict. The proposal includes equal representation of Libya’s three regions at a presidential council to be elected under UN supervision that would take charge for a year and a half.
Libya plunged into a civil war since 2011, after the then-leader Moammar Gadhafi was ousted and later killed. The country was split between rival governments in the east and the west, supported by armed groups and foreign governments. Haftar has been supported by Egypt, Russia, and The United Arab Emirates. GNA is supported by Turkey and Qatar — Egypt’s regional rivals. Haftar’s LNA has recently suffered significant military setbacks after Turkey extended more support to militias allied with the GNA.
