On Monday Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and US Secretary of State John Kerry said the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) would be able to request and receive weapons specifically to counter terrorist groups.
This would mean an exemption of the arms embargo imposed on Libya by the UN Security Council in 2011, citing government violence against civilians.
"Currently, this UN-backed government only has control of parts of Tripoli and the city of Misrata, but it does not control eastern Libya, or the Libyan National Army led by General Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya, who would not be happy about the recent announcement from yesterday's meeting in Vienna, because they would see this as arming a government they perceive as illegitimate because they did not win the confidence vote in the house of representatives in the city of Tobruk."
"To some people, this might create even more division in Libya and it might be perceived as if it's backing one side of an ongoing conflict in Libya."
Eljarh urged the international community to show caution on the possible lifting of the arms embargo, in order to first unite enough Libyan factions to form a representative government.
"Unless that happens, I do not think that the meeting and the joint statement yesterday will mean a lot on the ground and if some countries decide to back the Government of National Accord, although it does not have widespread backing in Libya, it will only fuel more conflict."
