Egypt can be key to resolving Libyan conflict if it’s ready to make compromises

Egypt can be a key player in defusing the conflict in Libya if it’s ready to make some realcompromises, Adel Abdel Ghafar and Mattia Toaldo suggest in a piece for the European Council on Foreign Relations. “Egyptian diplomacy has gained momentum and is now seen in many Western capitals as the key to a new settlement,” the article suggests, noting that “Libya is pivotal to Egypt’s security and economic interests.” In other words, peace in Libya translates to peace of mind in Egypt. But that might be easier said than done since most of the parties involved in the conflict, whether directly or by proxy, are primarily interested in preventing Islamists from gaining ground in Libya. True resolution, the authors say, can only be achievedthrough a framework that can guarantee measures such as the inclusion of all actors in the political scene and the imposition of civilian oversight on the military.