A high-level delegation from Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj held a meeting which was the first of its kind with the Benghazi-based Libya National Army (LNA) Commander Marshal Khalifa Hafter.
Haftar had only recently returned from his medical trip to France.
An official GNA statement said Sarraj’s deputy, Fathi al-Majbari, met Haftar at his office outside Benghazi.
It added that the accompanying delegation included both justice and economy ministers, the Libya Africa Investment Portfolio’s chairman and several tribal leaders.
Hafter welcomed the delegation, the statement said.
It also noted that the GNA delegation and Haftar addressed the nation’s concerns and problems.
This rare meeting is described as a new attempt to resolve differences between Haftar and the internationally-backed government, a source close to the LNA chief told Asharq Al-Awsat.
More so, the meeting had no political connotations and was limited to a social visit, congratulating Haftar for his safe return after receiving treatment abroad, the official added.
However, this meeting is in any case a qualitative shift in GNA-LNA relations. Two months ago, Haftar rejected a secret peace offer saying he does not recognize the Tripoli-based government.
In 2016, the LNA commander had banned GNA staffers from exercising any official activity in areas under army control. He also allowed the army to expel any GNA official or minister from the country’s Eastern Province.
A series of meetings have been held in Cairo, Paris and Abu Dhabi joining Haftar and Sarraj over the past two years, but they have not succeeded in ending outstanding differences between the two sides. In a recent breakthrough fostered by Egyptian mediation, there was a hinted agreement on reuniting the army under Haftar’s command.
On the other hand, the LNA army celebrated a new corps of fighters graduating. The event was marked with an ostentatious military parade. Celebrations also commemorated the fourth anniversary for Haftar launching LNA’s Operation Dignity Battle, a military campaign against extremist groups in eastern Libya.
