The United Nations mission to Libya on Monday said the warring parties to the ongoing war in the country have agreed to restart ceasefire talks, after weeks of intense fighting near the capital Tripoli, reported Reuters.
Khalifa Haftar’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) has been waging an offensive against the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) since April 2019 to seize the capital Tripoli. More than 1,000 have lost their lives in the violence so far.
A January truce brokered by GNA backer Turkey and key Haftar ally Russia has been repeatedly violated.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) released an online statement in which it welcomed the warring parties’ plan to resume talks based on the previously held 5+5 meetings, involving five senior officers appointed by each side. A military commission made up of five GNA loyalists and five Haftar delegates held talks in February, but the dialogue was suspended.
In the statement, the UN body emphasized that the resumption of dialogue comes in response to calls of the majority of Libyans who are demanding a return to a safe and dignified life as quickly as possible.
The UNSMIL said it is hoping that the response of the parties will result in cessation of hostilities to reach a solution that restores the standing of the State and its institutions, as well as stability and well-being that the people deserve. It called on the parties to empower their representatives in the negotiations to finalize the ceasefire agreement.
Libya is also struggling to control the coronavirus pandemic that has infected over 182 people and led to five deaths, according to data from US-based Johns Hopkins University. The number of recoveries stands at 52. The coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has so far spread to over 188 countries and regions.
