UN Special Representative to Libya, Bernardino Leon, has continued in his efforts to try to bring Libya’s rival factions together in what he hopes will be a Ghadames Meeting Mark Two. The prospects for such a dialogue look bleak with neither side any closer to being willing to compromise. And yet, Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni has signalled his acceptance of Sudanese initiatives for dialogue. However, this may be a ploy to deceive the international community as to his willingness for peace as he has drawn up a list of near impossible conditions that have to met if talks are to go ahead. Meanwhile Operation Libya Dawn continues to accuse Leon of being biased against it and is displaying increasing hostility towards the Special Representative, threatening this week to bar him from entering Tripoli.
However, the UN’s recent ruling to blacklist Ansar Al-Sharia and its threats to list the names of anyone who is hindering peace seems to have had some effect. Some Operation Libya Dawn commanders seem to be uncomfortable about being associated with a force that counts Ansar Al-Sharia among its allies. This builds on pre-existing fears by some Misratan brigades about being associated with hard line Islamist brigades whose orientation they do not share.