On 16 July, Libya-Analysis Managing Editor Rhiannon Smith was interviewed by Mohamed El Shenawi for Voice of America’s Africa News Tonight. Smith discussed the Cairo initiative under the auspices of Egypt and the UAE which gathered House of Representatives (HOR) members from Eastern Libya to push forward a political solution in Libya and counter external interference in Libyan affairs. For Smith, the initiative resembles an attempt by UAE and Egypt to influence Libyan politics as the conflict drags on in Tripoli and a victory of Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) remains uncertain. While the HOR presents itself as the sole legitimate political body in Libya, Smith insists on the fact that political legitimacy remains a tricky question in Libya and she also questions the objectivity of Eastern HOR members to push forward a political solution. For Smith, given the persisting deterioration of living conditions in Tripoli, Libyan, regional and international actors should first focus on implementing a cease fire between rival factions.Click here to listen to the interview (between 00:30 and 6:02)
Libya-Analysis R. Smith discusses HOR's Cairo Initiative