Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of Libya’s internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), said he would not resume negotiations with commander Khalifa Haftar from the rival Libyan National Army (LNA), and accused him of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to launch a new offensive against the GNA.
“I will never sit down with Haftar, after the disasters and the crimes he committed against all Libyans. We have always tried to solve our disputes through a political process, but any agreement has been soon rejected by Haftar”, al-Sarraj said in an interview.
When the country’s longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011, Libya was divided in two rival governments. The LNA is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia. The GNA is supported by Turkey and allied Syrian fighters.
Global efforts to mediate a ceasefire have repeatedly failed. On March 17, the United Nations and nine countries jointly called on both factions to cease hostilities to allow authorities tackle the spread of the coronavirus.
“We had agreed the ceasefire and the humanitarian truce, without letting our guard down. We expected that the dangers of the epidemic would have turned Haftar into a man of his word, for once. But he saw in the pandemic an opportunity to attack us”, al-Sarraj said.
According to the UN, hundreds of people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced since Haftar started an offensive to capture Tripoli, the seat of the GNA, last April.
Earlier this week, the GNA has captured seven towns that were controlled by the LNA. Al-Sarraj added that his forces had launched a successful counter-offensive and has gained ground, up to the recent capture of the city of Sabrata, a key military base for Haftar’s army.
