Cairo continues to mediate Libya conflict despite failures
Assuming a mediator role between conflicting Libyan parties, Egypt has recently met with both sides over finding a political solution but has yet to make substantial progress.
CAIRO — Egypt has repeatedly confirmed standing at equal distance from all parties in Libya to reach a political solution. Observers, however, believe the Egyptian position is contradictory. Cairo officially announced on Dec. 26, 2015, its recognition and support for the presidency council of the Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Fayez al-Sarraj — which emanated from the Libyan Political Agreement signed on Dec. 17, 2015, under United Nations auspices in Skhirat, Morocco.
At the same time, Cairo provides Sarraj’s rivals in Tobruk with direct support, particularly Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Khalifa Hifter, who Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called in April 2016 the savior of Libya from terrorism.
