It’s time to end Libya’s militia ‘chaos’, external interference – Sisi

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday said a concerted effort was needed to stop militias taking control of war-torn Libya.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Egyptian leader urged delegates to work on unifying all national institutions in order to save Libya and prevent the intervention of external actors in the North African nation’s internal affairs.

“This conflict needs to be stopped. It is time to take a bold and decisive stand to address the root causes of the Libyan crisis comprehensively. This can be achieved by fully committing to the United Nations plan,” Sisi said.

Egypt, along with the United Arab Emirates, is a supporter of east-based commander Khalifa Haftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA) has been trying to take Tripoli from forces allied with the internationally recognized government (GNA).

Haftar’s campaign has displaced more than 120,000 people in Tripoli alone, killed hundreds of civilians, and risks disrupting oil supplies from Libya.

By September 9, Haftar’s assault on Tripoli, which started last April, had killed 1,200, injured 6,000, according to figures from the United Nations.

It should be remembered that over the last few years, Haftar and his supporters have tried to play games with institutions assumed to be the responsibility of the GNA. The seaport of Benghazi, under Haftar’s control, appears to have regained its position in maritime trade, and its revenues go to the eastern government in Tobruk, not to the GNA.

Haftar’s control over vast oil fields gives him leverage if the international community allows him to have his own oil exports. Between 2016 and 2018, Haftar and the Tobruk government printed almost 10 billion Libyan dinars in Russia