An imminent deal seems to loom in the horizon of Cairo - for the first time after the ousting of former president Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 – to unite the Libyan military institution in an entity led by Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar.
This entity supposedly encompasses soldiers pro to the Government of National Accord, headed by Faiz Al-Sarraj who announced before his visit on Sunday to Egypt the formation of a joint-chamber with Italy to fight heroin and human trafficking.
As Sarraj intends to convene with officials in the Egyptian committee on the Libyan crisis during his visit to Cairo, a high-rank Libyan military officer stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that the fourth meeting of the Libyan army delegation, which was hosted by the Egyptian capital for the past three days, reached “an official agreement to appoint Haftar an army chief.”
A prominent Egyptian official told Asharq Al-Awsat that “there is a positive development. The army unifying process is on track. Cairo meetings succeeded in persuading everyone that the danger threatening Libya and the existence of terrorism that jeopardizes Libya’s neighbors push toward having a strong army.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Libyan National Army reported that its delegation sought to complete the organizational structure of the Libyan armed forces through necessary amendments. The delegation also stressed national concepts, basically the unity, sovereignty, security, and safety of Libya.
UN Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salameh expressed hope that conflict-parties in Libya reach an accord in saving the country from chaos.
Following his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nasser Bourita, in Rabat, Salameh affirmed that a political process is required to exit the Libyan crisis. This requires the drafting of a new constitution, achieving a national reconciliation and holding presidential and legislative elections.
