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Op-Ed: Rival Libyan regimes both critical of Libya Political Agreement

The cheerleading of the international community is deafening and no doubt irritating to both the internationally-recognized House of Representatives(HoR) in Tobruk in the east, and the General National Congress(GNC) based in Tripoli. Neither of the two parliaments have ratified the draft. The HoR is to discuss the draft and the nominees today. The HoR earlier rejected the amended draft but Leon was able to persuade them to go to a dialogue meeting in New York and another in Skhirat, where Leon suggested names for senior officials of the government.

GNC member Mahmoud al-Gharyani said: “I think what Leon did was a complete farce. We were surprised by the proposal. There must be a compromise because what has happened is not right and will never be acceptable.” Leon has managed to sow divisions where there are not divisions already. He has split the Misrata council away from the Tripoli-based GNC. The council has come out in favour of the GNA and Leon’s named officials. The GNC has roundly criticized the decision. Earlier, Leon met with commanders in Misrata without the permission of or even notifying the GNC general staff trying to take advantage of a developing split in GNC forces. The western city of Zintan’s military council rejected the agreement because it objects to two GNC members named to the government.

The negotiators for the two sides are constantly pressured into accepting what is proposed by Leon even though they must know that what they are agreeing to is unlikely to be accepted by their own government. As well as being cheerleaders for the LPA the international community is also a source of threats to sanction any group that disagrees or tries to thwart the LPA: The EU is considering sanctions against those opposing the formation of a national unity government in Libya. ”Those that hinder the agreement will be considered guilty,” according to a statement released after an EU Foreign Ministers Council meeting, which gave its full support to the political agreement presented by UN envoy Bernardino Leon.

The commander of the HoR armed forces, CIA-linked General Khalifa Haftar, was threatened with EU sanctions earlier. He laughed them off. His punishment has been to gain support from Egypt, the UAE, and the Arab League. These three were also at the recent UN meeting in New York where they were also cheer leaders for the LPA. Haftar has since brokered a military agreement with Jordan. At present, he is meeting with the president of Chad, probably to round up mercenaries to help him gain control in south Libya.

The HoR government under Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni is virtually controlled by Haftar. Haftar has prevented al-Thinni from leaving the country twice recently. It is unlikely that Haftar would tolerate the HoR agreeing to a GNA that would see senior GNA officials take over his job as indicated in the latest draft. However, Haftar has lost some support. Ibrahim al-Jathran, whose militia guard two major oil ports, is now feuding with him and even accuses Haftar of trying to assassinate him. The appended video seems to say al-Jathran is close to Haftar. Maybe at one time but not now. The report does not note that as part of his colorful past, al-Jathran and his militia blockaded eastern oil terminals for months. He even tried to load and sell oil without going through the government. The oil tanker Morning Glory was intercepted by the U.S. and the oil returned to the Libya government of the time. Jordan eventually signed a deal with the government. His move to support the GNA is no doubt designed to oust Haftar since Haftar would not be commander of the Libyan National Army under the GNA.

The acting mayor of the eastern city of Al-Bayda, Ali Al-Trieki, said all municipalities in eastern Libya reject the GNA announced by Leon. He called all mayors to gather in the Martyr Square in his city to denounce the GNA. Al-Trieki is a strong supporter of Haftar. He said if the demands of the municipalities were not met, a military council would be announced. He gave Leon until Friday, October 16 to change the names completely or a military council would be announced to rule instead of the HoR. This is what Haftar has long advocated. Al-Trieki said: “The military council would save Libya from division.” Quite the opposite a military council would ensure that the division remained and that civil war intensified. This is also what Haftar wants since he believes that the international community will help him since he describes his mission against the GNC government and its militia as part of a fight against Islamic terrorists. He has been carrying his military program since May of 2014 when he first launched Operation Dignity to clear Libya of Islamists. He continues to this day and has done so over the entire year of the peace dialogue.

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