By Adedapo Adesanya
Libya’s warring factions have signed a permanent ceasefire agreement after five days of talks in Geneva, indicating that the country, which has been driven by violence since 2011, could be on its way to peace.
The deal between military leaders from Libya’s government and those from opposition forces led by General Khalifa Haftar was brokered by the United Nations (UN).
The United Nations said the two sides reached the historic achievement with an immediate permanent ceasefire deal across the oil-rich North African country. Its Libya envoy Stephanie Williams called the agreement “a crucial sign of hope for the Libyan people”.
Libya has been riven by violence since Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was deposed by NATO-backed forces in 2011.
The oil-rich nation is a key transit point for migrants heading to Europe from Africa and many Libyans within the country have been forced from their homes.
The UN’s envoy also said the ceasefire will allow displaced people and refugees inside and outside the country to return to their homes.
Explaining the terms of the deal, she said all parties agreed that “all military units and armed groups on the front lines shall return to their camps”.
According to the deal, all mercenaries and foreign fighters will leave Libya within three months.
“This will be accompanied by the departure of all mercenaries and foreign fighters from all Libyan territory, land, air and sea within a maximum period of three months from today,” she added.
The internationally recognised government controls the capital Tripoli and surrounding areas, while forces loyal to General Haftar run the eastern part of the country from Benghazi.
When it comes to international backers, Turkey, Qatar and Italy support the Tripoli-based government while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt back renegade Gen Khalifa Haftar.
Russia, Turkey, the UAE and other states were accused by the UN last month of blatantly defying the international arms embargo on Libya.
Libya has the biggest oil and gas reserves in Africa. Since January, an armed group loyal to General Haftar had blocked key oil fields, causing power cuts and costing Libya billions of dollars in lost exports.
It was partially lifted in August to allow the sale of oil already stored in terminals, but not the production of fresh supplies but this has since restarted with production around 500,000 barrels per day.
The Geneva-based talks come ahead of a political forum in Tunisia in November. That forum aims to generate consensus on a unified governance framework and arrangements that will lead to the holding of national elections, the UN mission said.
