(by Massimiliano D'Elia) As reported by The Libyan Observer, the member of the Supreme State Council (HCS) Abdelrahman Al-Shater said last May that the French initiative to resolve Libya's political impasse is in the interest of the France and its goal is to control Libya through its agents already present in the country.
Al-Shater said that France's initiative is an escalation on its part to conduct acts in Libya that will translate into benefits for Paris.
"France is hindering the efforts of UNSMIL in Libya, which wants to give the Libyan parties the task of agreeing on a solution. The persistence of such a situation by France in Libya will lead the country into yet another division and probably into civil war. "
Last May, the High Representative of the Higher State Council foresaw what is happening today in Libya.
We are now on the fourth day of conflicts south of the capital that leave 6 dead and 33 wounded on the field. The clashes started with militias opposing Al Serraj's government. The offensive started from Islamist factions close to the former premier Khalifa Ghwell, but behind it all could be General Haftar, in contrast with the government of Tripoli, but also with Italy. UN envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame and President Serraj met to discuss a cessation of hostilities to protect civilians, advance ceasefire talks and immediately end the violence.
Tripoli in recent times has always been the scene of clashes and riots against the Serraj government, considered a traitor government. Last May, some factions had surrounded the government buildings of Tripoli because of the conference on Libya organized in Paris by President Macron. During the Paris conference, an agreement was made between Al Serraj and Gen. Haftar to hold the elections on 10 December 2018. But the French intention would not find the necessary conditions of stability. Libya is still divided between different factions that fight each other every day and that currently make any free democratic confrontation impossible. A situation on the ground that the Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Perrone has also repeatedly denounced. Italy, more prudent which aims to have “peaceful and democratic” elections held, does not stand still and will deliver other patrol boats to the Libyan Coast Guard and aims to hold a conference between the parties in Rome in the autumn.
Someone outside Libya, on the other hand, aims to advance the anti-government factions because they aim to give the leadership of the country to Gen. Haftar. France wants to pursue its intentions immediately, especially since last month the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, flew to Washington, collecting the support of US President Donald Trump on the Libyan dossier. The interest is in the orders and the exploitation of the energy resources present in Libya. Matteo Salvini, he told President Macron, " Italy - the only Western country to have its own embassy in Tripoli - believes that any elections to be held in Libya may represent an instrument and certainly not an end in the stabilization process of the North African country. The head of the Elysee points to the Libyan elections as decided in the Parisian conference, regardless. "