The French Foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Libya on 4 September. A French diplomatic source said the visit was intended to dovetail with efforts by U.N. Envoy Ghassan Salamé to announce a road map to elections during the coming U.N. General Assembly.

British FM met with Haftar in Benghazi, marking a turning point in the UK’s recognition of Haftar as a major player. However, Johnson warned the Haftar to abide by the Paris agreement made in July. On 28 August, Macron hosted a meeting with EU and North African countries on the Libyan migrant crisis.

The new UN Special Envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, visited all of Libya’s main power-broker cities on a one-week tour throughout the country. On 19 August, HoR President Ageelah Saleh arrived in Jordan for a three-day visit for talks with various Jordanian dignitaries, including King Abdullah. On 21 August, foreign ministers of Russia and Egypt met and reaffirmed the need for stronger inclusiveness of all Libyan parties.

A team of Italian military and security advisors visited Sirte’s al-Qardabiyah airport to assess ‘reconstruction.’ The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for LNA’s Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf al-Werfalli. There are reports that an armed security contingent for the UN is planned to offload in Khoms port.

On August 3, an Italian naval patrol boat, the Commandante Borsini, arrived in Tripoli with a group of experts for a five-day working visit; a second vessel is expected to replace it on August 8. LNA commander Khalifa Haftar called on Libyan armed forces in the west to repel Italian vessels with force should they enter Libyan waters. Those who oppose the Italians see their presence as a violation of Libyan sovereignty and evidence of imperial intent.

On 27 July, the UN Security Council (UNSC) announced its support for the joint declaration issued following the meeting between Serraj and Haftar in Paris. The US State Department published a similar endorsement and restated its commitment to peace in Libya. On 30 July, large delegations from eastern Libya, including HoR president Agilah Saleh, attended meetings in Cairo facilitated by the Egyptian Foreign Minister and Chief of Staff.

On 25 July, LNA Commander Haftar and GNA PM agree to a ceasefire and 2018 elections after meeting in France hosted by Emmanuel Macron. Italy is reportedly unsettled by France’s initiative and has expressed fear that Italy will be ousted from its traditional role as the leader of European diplomacy in Libya. on 25 July, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt announced new Libyan entities and individuals were added to their list of Qatar-funded ‘terrorists’.

Various sources report that Libyan general Ali Kanna visited Algerian foreign minister Abdelkader Messahel in Algiers last week. Mayor of Zintan and other western Libyan municipal leaders met with members of EU committee as part of their campaign to partner with local authorities to implement stabilization programmes. Italian MOI met with Zuwaran local officials in Tripoli to discuss possible Italian support and cooperation regarding the migration issue.

CNN has reported that according to US officials, there is a new diplomatic and military policy for Libya that could be finalized by the Trump administration in the next few weeks. Last week, the Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders invited representatives of the HoR and the HCS to the Netherlands in an attempt to kick start discussions to amend the LPA.

The French Defence Minister called Libya a ‘failed state’ and warned that the jihadist threat remains. On 30 June, the UNSC extended measures banning illicit export of crude and refined petroleum, and urged member states to support Libya in defeating ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia.

On 25 June, Haftar received a UAE Armed Forces delegation led by Deputy Chief of Staff Major General al-Mazrouei just one month after Egyptian chief of staff visit. Two prominent Zawiyyan militia members detained by authorities in Saudi Arabia on return from pilgrimage.

On 16 June, the UN Secretary General nominated Lebanese professor and politician Ghassan Salame as UN Special Envoy for Libya, in replacement of outgoing envoy Martin Kobler. Russia invited Thinni to Moscow for talks this week.

The blockade against Qatar continues, with several Libyans blacklisted for ties to Qatar. The UN Expert Panel on Libya’s latest report highlights UAE support to the LNA and the role of foreign mercenaries, while the UNSC extended the arms embargo against Libya.

On 5 June, the HoR announced it was cutting (non-existent) diplomatic ties with Qatar, in line with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, in light of its support for ‘terrorist’ groups. Foreign ministers from Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt met in Algiers on 5 June to discuss possible solutions to the Libyan political crisis.

Egypt conducted airstrikes on Derna  and Jufra last week, in coordination with the LNA, supposedly in retaliation for an ISIS massacre of Christians in Egypt. The GNA criticized the strikes as a violation of sovereignty.

GNA prime minister Fayez al-Serraj met briefly with US President Donald in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the American Islamic States Summit. China, Russia, France, the UK and the USA condemn violence in Libya following the Brak attack. Kobler warns that summary executions are included under war crimes and may be prosecuted by the ICC.