By Libya Herald staff.
Benghazi, 4 October 2014: Sudan has become the latest country to announce that it is backing Algerian moves to mediate peace in Libya.
A special envoy sent by Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to Algeria yesterday disclosed that Sudan was supporting “the pioneering diplomatic role of Algeria in the region” and its attempt to ensure “the return of stability in Libya”.
Claiming that Sudan itself “had suffered greatly from the present situation in Libya”, Sudanese Investment Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail told a press conference in the Algerian capital that he had been sent to deliver a message to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on what was happening in Libya as well as in Sudan.
The Libyan government has accused Sudan of sending arms and supplies to Libya Dawn. It threatened to break off diplomatic relations with it following the discovery of an arms-laden Sudanese plane in Kufra a month ago. Khartoum has vigorously denied the accusation although last month it welcomed the president of the former General National Congress Nuri Abu Sahmain in an official capacity for talks with President Bashir. Abu Sahmain was reported to be seeking support from Khartoum.
On Thursday, however, Sudan announced that it recognised the Tobruk-based House of Representatives as Libya’s sole legitimate parliament although it also said it took a neutral position on the crisis in Libya.
Algeria has said that it plans to host a conference this month to try and bring peace to Libya. However, it is not clear whether its efforts will add anything to the dialogue initiated at the UN-sponsored Ghadames meeting at the beginning of the week. Like the Ghadames talks, Algeria has said that only members of the House of Representatives will be invited to its meeting. [/restrict]
