Egypt Calls for Emergency Arab League Meeting on Libya

The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States has received a request from Egypt to hold an emergency meeting to discuss developments of the situation in Libya. 

Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, said that “The Egyptian delegation called for an emergency virtual meeting of the Arab League Council at the level of foreign ministers.”

The Assistant Secretary pointed out that coordination is currently underway with the Sultanate of Oman to set up the date of the meeting. 

“It’s expected that the meeting may be during the next week,” Zaki added. 

He stressed that the Egyptian request must obtain the support stipulated in the internal system by several countries in order to hold the emergency meeting. 

Egypt Initiative To Resolve Libya Issue

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, Libya has been in chaos. Since 2015, the two ruling powers have been in conflict – the GNA based in Tripoli (west), and a parallel government supported by the LNA Commander Field Marshal Haftar in the east of the country.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi (c), Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh (L) and LNA Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar (R)- Press Photo

On June 6, Sisi received Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh and Libyan National Army Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and announced an initiative to end the conflict in the neighbouring country.

Sisi told a news conference that the initiative includes a cease-fire starting Monday and is meant to pave the way for elections in oil-rich Libya. He warned against continuing to look for a military solution to the country’s crisis.

The Cairo Declaration emphasizes the unity, integrity, and independence of the Libyan lands, respecting all international efforts, initiatives, and relevant Security Council resolutions, and accordingly, the commitment of all parties to the ceasefire from June 8, 2020.

The initiative is mainly based on the outcomes of the Berlin Summit, which resulted in a comprehensive political solution that includes clear implementation steps (political, security, and economic tracks) and the respect for human rights and international human rights law.

Each of the three regions (Eastern, Western and Southern) shall form an electoral entity whose members are chosen from the House of Representatives and the State Council representing each region, along with tribal elders and notables, and taking into account an acceptable representation of women, youth, political elites, intellectuals, and unions.

Thus, the three committees meet under the auspices of the United Nations and each region chooses its own representative, either by consensus or via election, within a period not exceeding 90 days, according to the initiative.