North Africa and the Sahel

France is hosting a conference of leaders and diplomats today (12 November) in Paris to support and ensure that Libya can hold its planned elections in December. Countries previously at odds on the Libyan file will be represented. A final communique is likely to issue sanctions on any parties who spoil the process. All fingers are crossed as the international community hopes Libya can get out of a decade long chaos. There are, however, fears that certain Libyan factions may not accept the result of the elections and could possibly plunge Libya back to crisis. 

Libya welcomed its first batch of international tourist groups after a decade of conflict. The group traversed the Libyan desert to Ghadames, an oasis that had been off-limits due to the war. 

The UN Security Council called on Friday (29 October), in a resolution, on all parties involved in the Western Sahara dispute to resume negotiations “without preconditions and in good faith” in search of a “just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution”. The resolution also extended the mandate for the UN Mission for the Referendum on Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another year until 31 October 2022.

On Thursday (21 October), Libya's transitional government hosted various foreign officials in Tripoli to garner support for the transition process.  Around 30 delegations participated in the Libya Stabilization Conference including those representing the United Nations, European Union, African Union and the Arab League.

Imed al-Sayeh, head of Libya’s High National Elections Commission (HNEC), said that the country is “80 or 90 per cent ready” for the presidential, parliamentary elections. In additions, Libya's joint military commission (5+5) announced that it has prepared and approved an action plan to gradually, balanced and simultaneously remove all mercenaries and foreign fighters from the country.