International diplomatic efforts are bringing the 'Berlin Process' back to prominence in the Libyan scene, as these initiatives aim to break the political deadlock hindering the progress of the political process in the country. This activity comes at a time when the UN mission continues its efforts to complete the stages of the 'roadmap' it has laid out.
The 'Berlin Process' was launched as an international initiative in 2020, involving a group of Western and regional countries seeking to support a political solution in Libya, which has been suffering from political and military division since the fall of the late President Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.
Event Details
Many diplomats and Libyan politicians consider the 'Berlin Process' to have played a pivotal role in restructuring Libyan political institutions, as it contributed to laying the foundations for the 'Government of National Unity' led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. However, questions remain about the ability of this process to translate diplomatic efforts into tangible results on the ground.
Mohamed Mardas, a Libyan diplomat and former chargé d'affaires at the Libyan embassy in Syria, emphasized that the 'Berlin Process' is the most significant in the Libyan context, pointing out that the conference held in 2020 laid the groundwork for the roadmap that resulted from the Geneva meeting, leading to the formation of the current Presidential Council and the 'Unity' government.
Background & Context
The 'Berlin Process' includes numerous countries and international organizations, such as Germany, the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, China, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, and the Arab League. The participation of some countries varies depending on the nature of the meetings and developments in the Libyan file.
France has shown notable activity within the framework of the 'Berlin Process,' as the French President's special envoy, Paul Soler, met with Sami Al-Manfi, advisor to the head of the Presidential Council, to support the unification of institutions. Recent months have also seen meetings between French Ambassador Thierry Valla and Al-Manfi and his deputy, Moussa Al-Koni, reflecting Paris's eagerness to enhance its influence in the process.
Impact & Consequences
Despite these diplomatic activities, the question remains about the effectiveness of the 'Berlin Process' on the ground. Mardas believes that international pressure on Libyan parties, alongside public pressure, will have a strong impact on political positions. On the other hand, Libyan political researcher Mustafa Al-Fitouri sees that the 'Berlin Process' has combined both positives and negatives, as it has contributed to dismantling part of the crisis, but it has also opened the door to regional and international interventions through parallel tracks.
The prevailing idea is that the process lacks real tools of influence on the ground and does not possess clear executive power even within the UN mission, despite some of its outcomes being adopted in areas such as economics, human rights, and governance.
Regional Significance
The Libyan scene has witnessed waves of diplomatic activity followed by periods of stagnation, raising questions about the ability of these meetings to produce clear understandings regarding the rules of the political process and mechanisms for its implementation. The 'Berlin Process' resumed its meetings last June in the form of an international follow-up committee, after an absence of more than four years, where participants sent warning messages to those obstructing the political process that they would be held accountable under Security Council resolutions.
In conclusion, the 'Berlin Process' remains an important diplomatic tool in the quest to resolve the Libyan crisis, but its success depends on the ability of the concerned parties to overcome divisions and achieve a political consensus that ensures the stability of the country.