Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission meeting to end
The Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission will conclude its fifth round of talks in the city of Ghadames.
After the previous round of talks, the UN-backed Government of National Accord and the rival self-declared Libyan National Army militia were able to sign a permanent ceasefire on October 23, signalling the beginnings of a peace process. Today’s meetings will focus on discussing the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the establishment of monitoring and verification sub-committees to ensure compliance.
The reopening of transit across a country bisected by conflict signals high prospects for a tangible advancement of the peace process. The UN even succeeded in brokering a dialogue regarding future presidential and parliamentary elections. However, elections might elicit political suppression and violence in the deeply divided nation, potentially reigniting conflict. Sceptics of the ceasefire have raised concerns that the fighting has only ceased in the short-term due to a funding drought caused by an eight months oil blockade, which was only lifted in early October. While the possibility of economic revitalisation could be conducive to political stability, the concrete steps that must be taken to reach either objective are still hazy given widespread mistrust among members of opposing factions in the war-torn country.
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