30 October – 5 November: Head of the GNA and US Ambassador to Libya meet in London

Nov 6, 2019 | International actors

On 3 November, the head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Serraj, and US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, met in London. The meeting focused on ways to conclude the fighting in Tripoli amid the escalating involvement of external actors. The US Embassy reiterated its support of UN Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame’s mediated political process.

On 2 November, Italy’s deal with the GNA, which empowers the Libyan coastguard to intercept migrant boats and return them to Libya, was automatically renewed without amendments. The deal would only have been cancelled if one of the parties pulled out.

The GNA formally reopened Mitiga airport on 29 October and said that they planned to resume flights in the next two weeks. The opening was attended by UN Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame who said that the UN had made sure “that all parts of the airport, the runway and the arrival and departure terminals were free of military manifestations.” He stressed that there was no excuse to target the airport and added that the UN plans to open its own terminal at Mitiga, which will “add to the civil character of the airport.”