Tuesday 25 of July, French president Emmanuel Macron invited in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, near Paris, Fayez Sarraj who presents himself as leader of the National Unity Government (RNG ) and Khalifa Haftar who presents himself as commander of the Libyan national Army (NLA).
The objective announced by Paris is to find a solution to the Libyan “crisis” and organize elections that would finally guarantee stability for the country. But now president Macron did not choose the people who are most favorable to peace and democracy, and France continues to ignore royally one of the most important elements for solving the “crisis”, namely the Amazigh issue.
Libya’s Amazigh are critical,without them, it will be difficult to arrive at any solution. Yet the Amazigh have continued to express themselves and to tell the international community their vision but especially their requirements and this since 2011. Simply but clearly, they had to say that the Amazigh will not recognize any institution which does not recognizes them and denies them their basic rights and that nothing will be done without the Amazigh in Libya. But this does not seem to have been heard by the international community that claims to find a settlement to the Libyan crisis.
We deliver here the position of the High Council of Amazigh [ “Amqim ameqqran n Imaziγen n Libya”] (HCAL) on the meeting of La Celle Saint Cloud. The answers to our questions were made by ladies Siham BenTalib and Asma Akka and Mr. Hisham Ahmadi, members of the HCAL Management.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened July 25 Sarraj Khalifa Hafter to find a solution to the Libyan crisis. What do you think about the joint statement issued at the outcome of the meeting?
HCAL: The meeting was a form of media advertising to maintain or grow a relationship with other countries that interfere in Libyan internal affairs and an attempt to legitimize the ethnic and terrorists militias. M. Sarraj came to the presidency of the government illegally, which has exacerbated the political crisis in Libya. As for Hafter, this is a military that has a sinister past, including his own military history. A man of “state coup” who wants to rule by restoring military rule.
Regarding the results of the meeting and the statement issued after the meeting, it was mentioned in the statement a call for a ceasefire, with the exception of the continuation of the war against terrorism without determining who are terrorist groups and their positions. This may be interpreted by “any person against Hafter is terrorist.”
That said, it is virtually impossible to enforce the cease-fire and to integrate the armed groups into the unified regular forces as long as Hafter is commander of those forces, because it will be ethnic militias and not a national army including all Libyan communities. Today there are cities that completely reject any presence or role for Hafter.
The Elysee says that “the goal of France is to contribute to policy development and to help Libyans solution to strengthen the inter-Libyan political agreement Skhirat to make it more operational and inclusive.” Also adding that the meeting is the continuation of a rich and inclusive inter-Libyan dialogue in which all stakeholders of good will have their place.” Can we really say that all stakeholders were invited to this meeting?
All parties and sensitivities were neither present nor represented at the meeting of the Elysée Palace. And anyway, it is clear that neither Sarraj nor Haftar represent the Amazigh. The real purpose of this meeting is to allow Hafter to conclude an agreement with Sarraj reconciliation government. And this issue worries us because Hafter is a supporter of Arab nationalism.
Since the Amazigh who represent a very important part in that Libya were not invited, may they be concerned about the outcome of this meeting? And if the international community persists in ignoring the Amazigh and their requirements, can we expect a real settlement of what is called the “Libyan crisis”?
It is unacceptable that it is so because the Amazigh are an important and crucial part for the stability of Libya and if the concerns and requirements of Libyan Amazigh are ignored by the international community, the risk is growing to increase fractures and rivalries within the Libyan society.
Elections are announced for next spring. Will the Amazigh participate? And if this is the case on what terms?
Faced with that, we can not determine our position through participation or refusal, as the issues are not clarified in relation to the new body to be elected and the electoral law.
The international community often evokes the struggle against illegal emigration from the Libyan coast. Amazigh military units of Zouara perform a huge work against this emigration and manage to secure its shores. Does the international community – including France, Italy and Germany- provides any support to the Amazigh military forces of Zouara?
Despite our contacts with the European Union, international organizations and the United Nations Mission in charge of this issue, the police forces of the Municipality of Zouara (Imsuten – ⵉⵎⵙⵓⵜⵏ) received no support at all. It is the same for the Red Crescent in the city of Zouara suffering from lack of support and resources due to the centralization of authority of this organization based in Tripoli, who deliberately refuses to support the Zouara Red Crescent despite its own contribution to the Libyan red Crescent in Tripoli.
Recently a fatwa against the Ibadism was pronounced by a Libyan group. This is a real call to genocide. Can you tell us more about that?
The HCAL had to react to this fatwa and the threat of genocide against the Amazigh in a statement dated 10 July 2017.
What is your message to the international community that claims to find a solution to the Libyan crisis ?
As we expressed in our latest statements, we call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and uphold international law regarding the serious threat against the Amazigh as illustrated by the Fatwa from the Fatwas Commission of the High Libyan authority of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs of the proclaimed provisional Government in the east of Libya or even about Hafter’s declarations.
Masin Ferkal. http://tamazgha.fr/Libye-pas-de-solution-sans-les.html