The UAE has been accused of blocking a ceasefire deal in Libya

On Wednesday, Khalid al Mishri, Chairman of the UN-recognised High Council of State (HCS) in Libya accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of playing a crucial role in obstructing the recent peace talks that aimed to end Libya's civil war. 

In a television interview, al Mishri stated that the UAE "was present in the cease-fire negotiations in Moscow; and among Haftar's delegation was the charge d'affaires of the UAE embassy to Russia”. He went on to say that this was “one of the reasons why the ceasefire agreement was obstructed”, suggesting that the UAE pushed renegade general Khalifa Haftar to withdraw from the peace talks and not to sign the deal. 

Haftar receives backing from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, and to a certain extent Russia. The warlord has a self-declared army known as the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF). Libyan expert Mary Fitzgerald told TRT World that “Haftar’s boldness [] has limits, and he is only as stubborn as the support from his external backers allows him to be.”

Since 2011, Libya has suffered a brutal civil war between two rival administrations, which has garnered involvement from foreign powers. The conflict is responsible for the deaths of more than 280 civilians and approximately 2,000 fighters to date, according to UN sources.