GNA prime minister Fayez Al-Sarraj said in a televised speech on September 16 that the UN-sponsored peace negotiations have succeeded in the rival sides entering a ‘new preparatory phase’

The government in the eastern part of Libya resigned after four days of protests against cash shortages, frequent power cuts and increasingly high fuel prices

The objective of the talks, termed “Libyan dialogue,” is to discuss the mechanisms to prolong the ceasefire declared around two weeks ago by both the parties

The declaration of a ceasefire in war-torn Libya has raised hopes that a political solution can be reached and years of hostility ended. The war in Libya and the possible peace has great regional significance too.

Both the Government of National Accord and the House of Representatives which supports the Libyan National Army made announcements indicating an end to all hostilities, as well as the demilitarization of the cities of Sirte and Al-Jufrah

Vijay Prashad raises the alarm on the situation in Libya which has been ravaged by an imperialist war since 2011

Last month, Egypt had threatened “direct intervention” in Libya if the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord did not back off from its mission to take back the eastern city of Sirte from Khalifa Haftar’s forces

The decade-long conflict in Libya following the 2011 NATO invasion is now at a critical juncture, and may spiral into a regional war if no serious measures are taken to prevent such a situation

The statement comes even as the warring factions in the country are backed by various EU members and are supplied arms by them. The conflict in Libya has escalated over the past few weeks

The chaos created by the NATO-led invasion of Libya in 2011 has made the country a breeding ground for human trafficking to Europe, leading to hundreds of deaths each year

The head of the WHO mission in Libya warned that the healthcare system in the country “was close to collapse”. Libya faces a severe shortage of testing equipment, protective gear and medical personnel, along with the money required to pay for them

The warlord who had initially agreed to the ceasefire proposed by Russia and Turkey withdrew saying that it did not address his concerns. His rival group, the Government of National Accord, has already signed the agreement