– Doubts over talks –
Italy, which has seen tens of thousands of migrants and refugees wash up on its shores this year, most of whom travelled through the chaos in Libya, praised the GNC’s decision to join the talks.
With the GNC involved, “the political process can move forward,” Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said in a statement.
But experts say that fighting on the ground could continue even if the GNC and Tobruk parliament ultimately form a unity government.
“There may be a disconnect between the negotiators and those fighting,” said Frederic Wehrey, a North Africa specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Leon said a separate dialogue was ongoing with military and militia leaders but that progress on that track was slower.
“There has to be more convergence,” he said, stressing that without full buy-in from those fighting on the ground, a political deal is unlikely to hold up.
Addarrat conceded that militias linked to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group will almost certainly reject any unity government, but said that Libya’s best hope to combat extremism is through a single, recognised central authority.
“There are always extremists and others who don’t want a political solution,” he said.
“The solution is a national unity government that can confront them.”
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