Libyan and Chadian officials held discussions aimed at addressing the challenges facing the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD).
The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, brought together Chadian Foreign Minister Abdelrahman Kalamallah and Acting Foreign Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Al-Taher Al-Baour.
According to a statement released by the Chadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, the two ministers agreed to work together on finding swift solutions to the difficulties currently hindering the organisation’s operations.
In addition to CEN-SAD, the talks centred on strengthening the existing relationship between Libya and Chad, with a particular focus on peace, security, and stability in the region. Both parties underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral relations to tackle shared challenges.
This comes as part of ongoing efforts to revitalise CEN-SAD. Earlier in April, Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba of the GNU met with the executive secretary of CEN-SAD, Ambassador Addo Hadji, to finalise arrangements for the organisation to resume its operations from Tripoli.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations.
Libya’s economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya’s economy.
The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions.
The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition.
Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges.
