TRIPOLI, 21 August 2020, TON: Libya’s U.N. recognized government of Fayez Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), on Friday announced a cease-fire across the country and called for demilitarizing the strategic city of Sirte in an initiative supported by the rival parliament in the east. This seems to be a major breakthrough in the recent months.

In a separate statement, Aguila Saleh, speaker of the rival eastern-based House of Representatives, supported Sarraj’s proposal of demilitarization of Sirte, an idea floated earlier this month by the United States as a compromise to prevent an escalation

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said in a tweet that the cease-fire announcement was an “important step toward restarting a political process that favors stability in the country and well-being among its people.”

Libya was plunged into foreign imposed war, when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 in which foreign forces landed in Libyan soil, armed rebels forces and toppled legitimate ruler  Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed.  Despite, peace talks and UN recognized Fayez Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, opponent foreign powers helped Libya’s former military commander Khalifa Hiftar, an American national, who now controls major oil export terminals since January.

Despite all previous efforts to secure lasting peace or at least a cease-fire failed to produce results. But this time there is a possibility of progress on neutralizing heavy foreign interference in the conflict, especially by France, US, Russia, Italy, UAE, Qatar and Turkey. In case the conflict is not resolved there are chances of direct military confrontation between US, Russia, UAE and Egypt on one side and Turkey on the other.  Nevertheless, the US is playing a double role and its strategy at time confuses the international stakeholders.