By the Gazette Editorial Board Cairo is anxiously watching the tragic escalation of the situation in its western neighbour – Libya. There are growing fears that this already war-ravaged country is sliding helplessly and uncontrollably into a whirlwind of violence. Clashes have been renewed between armed militias and the 7th Brigade in Tripoli. More than 40 people were killed. The Libyan interior ministry has warned all residents to stay away from the conflict areas. The Government of National Accord (GNA), under Fayez el-Seraj, had earlier decided to disband the 7th Brigade. But the Commander of the 7th Brigade ignored the order. There are conflicting reports about the situation, some of which maintain that the 7th Brigade has launched a military coup against el-Saraj's GNA for its alleged backing of the armed militias. The spokesman for the 7th Brigade declared that they would not stop until they had eliminated armed militias (Islamists) from the capital. It is known that el-Seraj's GNA legitimatised the presence of the Islamists in Libya's political life. The commander of the 7th Brigade has sent a reassuring message to the foreign diplomatic corps in the capital, confirming that peace would prevail after the dismissal of all armed militias. The UN envoy to Libya appears to be at a loss, being unable to persuade the warring factions to agree to a ceasefire and return to the negotiating table ahead of presidential elections scheduled to take place in December. Facebook has been blocked. Telecom companies deny involvement. The spokesman for the International Communications Company in Tripoli said that Facebook has stopped working because of an international provider malfunction. Italy has accused France of being behind the renewal of the armed clashes between the warring factions in Libya. There is growing uncertainty over whether parallel presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for later this year will ever take place. Italy is pressing hard for the postponement of presidential elections in Libya to the first half of next year. Nonetheless, France is determined that the presidential elections should be held as scheduled in December. Italy won the support of key players in Libya for delaying the presidential elections, during a meeting held in Rome two weeks ago. The meeting was attended by representatives of the US, Britain, Russia, France, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Italy has real concerns that holding elections in Libya before achieving inclusive national reconciliation will have negative repercussions. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called for a stable political framework to be secured, before elections take place. Responding to Conte's statement, French President Emmanuel Macron said last week that the coming months would be decisive concerning the situation in Libya. Macron confirmed that France was determined that the different factions in Libya should honour their obligations regarding political reconciliation and the sovereignty of Libyan territory. It is too difficult to predict the outcome of the new clashes between the warring parties in Libya. Nor is it possible to tell which personality or which faction will be the winner in the end.
