Violence abates during tentative truce in Tripoli
After violent clashes rocked Tripoli, Libyan officials are calling on the United Nations to assume a military role to mediate between rival militias.
After a month of bloody warfare among militias around Tripoli, an uneasy cease-fire is in place in Libya's desperate capital.
The groups, all of which claim to support the Government of National Accord (GNA), agreed Sept. 26 to the cease-fire. The city's only functioning airport has reopened, though it had to close for a couple of hours Oct. 2 after a rocket fell nearby. Some displaced families are returning home. Cease-fire violations still occur here and there, but so far with limited scope.
It took several meetings among the array of militias, with full participation of UN Special Envoy Ghassan Salame in the western city of Zawia, to reach the cease-fire. It's the first time any UN envoy has taken part in discussing security arrangements on the ground after a bout of fighting.
The involvement of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), for the first time, in mediation efforts between the different fighting groups was an important step to calm hostilities. UNSMIL’s mandate only allows the mission to play a political role and does not mention military mediation between local militias.
