Managing Editor of Libya-Analysis Rhiannon Smith on Abu Dhabi meeting between Haftar and Sarraj

On 5 March, Managing Editor of Libya-Analysis  Rhiannon Smith was interviewed by VOA News about the recent meeting in Abu Dhabi between the UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salamé, General Haftar and the head of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez Al-Sarraj. For Smith, the meeting did not bring anything new to the discussions on how to end Libya’s transitional phase as both General Haftar and Al-Sarraj had previously agreed to the organisation of elections in Libya. Smith notes that neither the subjects of the National Conference, an essential step of the UN’s plan to solve the Libyan political stalemate, not the Constitution draft, were mentioned during the Abu Dhabi meeting. As a result, she questions what directions will be adopted on these significant steps on the way towards elections. For Smith, « the meeting resembled an attempt by the UN to get some kind of control over the Libyan political process and re-inject some energy into it ». Smith analyses that General Haftar’s latest successes in Southern Libya are granting him an increased popularity in many parts of Libya and that it is derailing the political process. Furthermore,Click here to listen to Rhiannon Smith (between 11:08 and 14:13)