Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar rejected a ceasefire appeal put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron during talks in Paris, an Elysee official confirmed on Wednesday. Haftar is currently leading a military offensive against the UN-recognized government in Tripoli since last month.
According to a statement released from Macron’s office, Macron asked Hifter to work toward a cease-fire and a return to the political process during a more than hour-long closed-door meeting in Paris. He said the Libyan Commander had justified the attack on Tripoli by saying he was fighting against private militias and extremist groups who are gaining influence in the capital, reported Reuters.
“The distrust we see between the Libyan actors is stronger than ever today,” said the official after the meeting.
“When the question of the ceasefire was put on the table, Haftar’s reaction to this was to ask: ‘negotiate with whom for a ceasefire today?’” he added.
The official said Haftar considers GNA is completely infested by militias and it is not for him to negotiate with representatives of these militias. He said when Macron had asked Haftar to take a step towards a ceasefire, Haftar responded by saying that an inclusive political dialogue was necessary and he would be ready to negotiate if certain conditions are met.
However, the official said Haftar gave no indication as to when he is willing to hold dialogue focused on ending the bloody conflict. He also said Haftar had rejected suggestions he or forces loyal to him were benefiting from oil sales in the east of the country.
The closed-door meeting between Macron and Haftar came two weeks after the French President hosted Libya’s struggling U.N.-backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj, who has denounced Haftar’s offensive as an attempted coup. After the meeting, Macron made an appeal for an unconditional ceasefire implemented under international supervision.
