Heiko Maas asks Libya's head of government to postpone his resignation

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Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas

Photo: Christian Spicker / imago images / Christian Spicker

After the recently agreed ceasefire, Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas asked Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj to postpone his resignation.

In a telephone conversation, Maas suggested that the head of government of the North African country remain in office for the duration of the upcoming political talks between the civil war parties on the future of Libya.

"In our view, this would be important to ensure institutional and executive continuity at the head of the Libyan government in these crucial weeks."

Sarraj and Haftar agree on a ceasefire

The rival camps in the civil war in Libya agreed on a ceasefire last week.

Sarraj and his adversary Khalifa Haftar now want to start political talks, which should begin in November in Tunisia.

Germany has a mediating role in the conflict.

Sarraj announced his resignation in mid-September after protests against the government and conflicts within its ranks.

At that time he declared that he wanted to give up the office by the end of October at the latest.

The political climate in Libya is in a state of extreme polarization that makes any attempt to resolve the crisis extremely difficult, said Sarraj.

Observers saw this as a reaction to pressure from various quarters within their own ranks to which the head of government is exposed.

A civil war has been raging in the North African country since the overthrow of long-term ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011 with Western aid.

The internationally recognized Sarraj government, based in the capital Tripoli, is fighting for power with Haftar and a counter-parliament in Tobruk in eastern Libya.

There are also conflicts within the respective camps.

The conflict is fueled by foreign states that send weapons, mercenaries and other equipment into the country.

All international efforts to resolve the conflict have so far been unsuccessful.

General Haftar is supported by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Russia.

The most important supporters of the internationally recognized government of Sarraj include Qatar, Turkey and Italy.

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mfh / dpa