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EU Extends Sanctions on 3 Prominent Libyan Politicians | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Fayez al-Sarraj, President of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord of Libya (C) sits next to Libya’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Taha Siala (L) and Interior Minister Al-Aref Al-Khoja during a meeting in Rome, Italy March 20, 2017. REUTERS/Remo Casilli


Cairo – The European Union on Friday extended sanctions against three Libyan politicians, citing concerns they are thwarting efforts to form a democratic government and violating a 2015 peace deal.

Italy also announced it had sponsored a 12-point peace treaty between dozens of rival tribes including, Tuareg of the southwest, Toubou of the southeast, and the Arab tribe of Awlad Suleiman. The tribes agreed to cooperate on securing the country’s borders in an effort to curb the influx of migrants trying to reach Europe.

During a meeting in Brussels, the Council of the European Union has extended the sanctions imposed on Libyan Tobruk-based House of Representatives’ Speaker Aguila Saleh, head of the General National Congress Nuri Abu Sahmain, and Prime Minister of the Salvation Government Khalifa al-Ghweil.

EU sanctions typically include an asset freeze and a ban on travel to and within the European Union.

According to the lawmakers, the three are obstructing the implementation of the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement and the formation of a “government of national accord.”

Noting the situation in Libya remains volatile, the lawmakers extended the sanctions against the three individuals for another six months.

In response to the sanctions, several delegations of the southern governorates and Libyan tribes met with Saleh honoring him for his patriotic and honest position.

Saleh’s media advisor said that the delegations condemned the extension of the sanctions, describing EU’s decision as unfair.

Omar Hmaidan, the official spokesman of the Libyan National Congress, denied allegations that Abu Sahmain has resigned his post.

He stressed that Abu Sahmain is carrying out his tasks away from the spotlight for security reasons.

Head of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Sirte operations room General Mohamed Ahmouda announced that troops launched an operation to liberate South of Libya from terrorist groups. He said that if the forces succeeded in controlling the south and joined other troops in other areas, there will be no problem then.

The Italian interior ministry informed AFP that Libyan tribes have signed a peace treaty after secret talks in Rome.

As a result of secret 72-hour talks that ended on Friday evening, Toubou and Awlad Suleiman ethnic groups living in the south of Libya agreed to sign a peace treaty. The talks were mediated by Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti.

The meeting was attended by over 60 clan leaders, including the head of the largest Tuareg tribe in the Libyan region of Fezzan as well as Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Omar Maiteeq of Libya’s UN-backed GNA.

“The Libyan border guard service will be active all along the 5,000 kilometers long south Libyan border. And in the north, migrant sea traffickers will be dealt with by the Libyan coastguard which was trained by Italian experts, and which will be equipped with 10 motor boats from April 30,” Minniti told La Stampa.

Minniti added that sealing the southern Libyan border means sealing the southern border of Europe.