Fighting broke out on Monday between the powerful 444th brigade and the Rada Force or the Special Deterrence Forces (SDF), both working under Libya’s so-called National Unity Government (GNU) led by Abdul Hameid Dbeibah

This was the second such attempt by Fathi Bashagha loyalists to get hold of capital Tripoli since he was elected by the Libyan parliament in February as prime minister.

At least one person has died after security forces opened fire injuring several of the protesters who were demanding an end to the lockdown and adequate economic support from the government in Tripoli, the second largest city in Lebanon

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 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

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