France, Germany Consider Sanctions On Foreign Actors Involved In Libya

The leaders of France, Germany and Italy said Saturday that they are considering sanctions on foreign actors involved in the Libyan Civil War.

“We also call on all foreign actors to end their increasing interference and to fully respect the arms embargo established by the United Nations Security Council,” French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a joint statement.

“We are ready to consider the possible use of sanctions if the breaches of the embargo at sea, on land or in the air continue, and look forward to the proposals that the High Representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy will make in this regard.”

Multiple outside countries are playing a role in Libya’s civil war.

The Libyan National Army, based in the east, is led by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, and is backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

The U.S. has been mostly quiet during the conflict as Russia seemingly extends its reach.

“The U.S. is essentially out of the game. The Libyans are unable to make their own decisions, entirely dependent on foreign actors,” a Western diplomat told the Washington Post. “There is total drift.”

Turkey has provided military support to the U.N.-recognized government in Libya, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.

Egypt has been pressured by tribal leaders supporting Haftar into military intervention in the conflict. “Egypt is able to change the military situation quickly and decisively if it wants,” Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi said on Thursday.

"Steps taken by Egypt here, especially their siding with the putschist Haftar, show they are in an illegal process," Turkish President Recep Tayyep Erdogan said on Friday in response to el-Sissi’s meeting with the tribal leaders.

Libya’s civil war erupted in 2014 during a period of political stability after the death of military strongman Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Gaddafi, who had led Libya for more than four decades, implemented one of Africa's most brutal regimes and had a tense relationship with western countries.