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Libya’s civil war has become increasingly internationalized since Khalifa Haftar launched his offensive on Tripoli in April 2019. The conflict between Haftar’s forces and those aligned with the Government of National Accord (GNA) remains ongoing and has intensified in recent weeks. The stalemate that has dominated the battlefield for more than a year seems to have been broken by the counter-offensive of the GNA-aligned forces—does this latest development constitute a game changer? How are the international backers of each side going to react? Is the Libyan situation finally ripe for effective international mediation and negotiation?

To discuss these questions the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East is convening a group of experts to discuss the situation on the ground and the prospects for international mediation. This discussion will feature H.E. Ahmed Maitig, Deputy Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA); Amb. Mehmet Öğütçü, former Turkish Diplomat and Chairman of Global Resources Partnership; and Amb. John E. Herbst, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative Director Ms. Kirsten Fontenrose will give introductory remarks and Hariri Center Senior Fellow Dr. Karim Mezran will moderate.

We hope you can join this important and timely discussion. Any questions about the event can be directed to eburchfield@atlanticcouncil.org. 

Speakers

H.E. Ahmed Maitig
Deputy Prime Minister and Former Prime Minister
Government of National Accord (GNA)

Amb. Mehmet Öğütçü
Chairman; Former Turkish Diplomat
Global Resources Partnership

Amb. John E. Herbst
Director, Eurasia Center
Atlantic Council

Moderated by

Dr. Karim Mezran
Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East
Atlantic Council

Introduced by

Ms. Kirsten Fontenrose
Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative
Atlantic Council