International actors

On 20 September, Salame outlined the proposed new UN roadmap for Libya at a high level meeting on Libya at UNGA. The roadmap consists of a 3 stage process: limited amendments to the LPA, a National Congress Conference of all Libyan actors to agree and endorse the new government and constitutional amendments, and finally a referendum and elections.

On 15 September, the UN Security Council issued resolution 2376 extending the UNSMIL mandate for another year. On 14 September, UN envoy Ghassan Salame briefed the foreign ministers of America, Italy, the UAE, Egypt and France in London at the talks organized by the British FM. LNA Commander Haftar met with Congolese President, Denis Sassou Nguesso; Tunisian President, Beji Caid Essebsi; and US ambassador to Libya, Peter Bodde.

On 5 September, Italy’s Interior Minister Marco Minitti visited LNA Commander Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi just a day after the French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian completed his tour of Libya. The new UNSMIL chief Ghassan Salamé is said to be frustrated by the succession of independent bilateral attempts to broker a solution to Libya’s crises, particularly ahead of the UN General Assembly’s meeting on Libya on 20 September.

The French Foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Libya on 4 September. A French diplomatic source said the visit was intended to dovetail with efforts by U.N. Envoy Ghassan Salamé to announce a road map to elections during the coming U.N. General Assembly.

British FM met with Haftar in Benghazi, marking a turning point in the UK’s recognition of Haftar as a major player. However, Johnson warned the Haftar to abide by the Paris agreement made in July. On 28 August, Macron hosted a meeting with EU and North African countries on the Libyan migrant crisis.

The new UN Special Envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, visited all of Libya’s main power-broker cities on a one-week tour throughout the country. On 19 August, HoR President Ageelah Saleh arrived in Jordan for a three-day visit for talks with various Jordanian dignitaries, including King Abdullah. On 21 August, foreign ministers of Russia and Egypt met and reaffirmed the need for stronger inclusiveness of all Libyan parties.

A team of Italian military and security advisors visited Sirte’s al-Qardabiyah airport to assess ‘reconstruction.’ The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for LNA’s Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf al-Werfalli. There are reports that an armed security contingent for the UN is planned to offload in Khoms port.

On August 3, an Italian naval patrol boat, the Commandante Borsini, arrived in Tripoli with a group of experts for a five-day working visit; a second vessel is expected to replace it on August 8. LNA commander Khalifa Haftar called on Libyan armed forces in the west to repel Italian vessels with force should they enter Libyan waters. Those who oppose the Italians see their presence as a violation of Libyan sovereignty and evidence of imperial intent.

On 27 July, the UN Security Council (UNSC) announced its support for the joint declaration issued following the meeting between Serraj and Haftar in Paris. The US State Department published a similar endorsement and restated its commitment to peace in Libya. On 30 July, large delegations from eastern Libya, including HoR president Agilah Saleh, attended meetings in Cairo facilitated by the Egyptian Foreign Minister and Chief of Staff.