Libya’s Al-Sirraj in UAE for talks about civilian authority over military institution

The Head of the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord, Fayez Al-Serraj, has arrived in the UAE, according to his spokesman Mohammed El Sallak.

El Sallak said on Twitter Monday that Al-Sirraj was invited for discussions on mutual relations and the current crisis in Libya with the Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and other officials.

Meanwhile, local media in Libya reported that the commander of the self-styled army Khalifa Haftar was also invited for the discussions, but he refused to go, saying his refusal is based on the fact that the UAE wants to push him to have himself and his forces under the Presidential Council’s command.

According to one source from local media outlets in Libya, Haftar went to Abu Dhabi but later left as he was faced with the push for accepting being under the civilian authority of the Presidential Council.

Haftar has met with Al-Sirraj before but the two men couldn’t implement any of their previous agreements – especially the Paris and Palermo Conferences’ results.