Through international efforts, particularly by Russia and Germany, a Libya peace conference was held in Berlin last week attending by leaders of 11 countries, the UN, the European Union, the African Union, and the Arab League. An agreement to more strictly enforce a UN arms embargo was reached at the end of the conference.

International commitments to end the dispute

Speaking to reporters after the conference, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the leaders agreed on a comprehensive plan forward.  All participants worked really constructively together, she added.

She expressed her belief that the commitment made today is a first step toward lasting peace for the Libyan people. Although it was unable to resolve all the problems, the meeting confirmed a determination of all parties to pursue a comprehensive truce by pledging not to intervene in Libya’s internal affairs and to respect the arms embargo adopted by the UN in 2011.

Challenges

Analysts say it’s too early to expect a lasting peace in Libya. The leaders of Libya’s two warring factions refused to attend the summit. The head of Libya's UN-recognized government of National Accord (GNA), Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, and Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), refuse to meet with each other.

Representatives from Russia, which has influence with the LNA, said it’s a pity that the two Libyan factions won’t meet each other. A week ago GNA and LNA delegations left Moscow without signing a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey.

It’s difficult to achieve even a limited ceasefire, let alone a long-term peace roadmap. Outside interference in Libya is a large part of the problem. Analysts say every time the situation changes to favor one side, the commitment to non-interference is violated by supporters of the other side.