Warring Libyan Factions Agree On Prisoner Exchange To Walk Road Of Peace

 The efforts to find peace in Libya seems to have covered some ground as an UN-led peace talk between the warring factions of Libya took a conclusive turn with agreeing over a prisoner exchange.

The warring factions that have been getting support from foreign parties have now come under pressure to avert any further escalation. It has taken more than humanitarian peace talks to put an end to the civil war lead mayhem in Libya.

In the face-to-face military talks, it was decided that General Haftar led side and the UN-recognized government side will agree to a prisoner exchange and open the air and land transit across the country’s divided territory.

In a written statement, the UN support mission in Libya has confirmed that the two days talks were conducted in “a spirit of responsibility, transparency and mutual trust," that has resulted in progress on several of the lingering issues between the war's two parties.

Starting October, both parties have agreed to amicably release prisoners captured amid military operations.  Owing to the fact that the country has rich oil reserves, the two warring factions have also agreed to protect their own fossil assets.

Up until now, the oil and gas facilities were largely under the control of forces backing military commander Khalifa Haftar in the country's eastern region. Going ahead, the coming talks would happen to have this on priority, in order for production and export to resume fully. If the warring factions unite, economists believe, the foreign powers will not have a say in the governance and the economic growth of Libya, something that the US, Russia, Turkey, and some other Middle Eastern countries have been eyeing for a long time.

With support from the UN, the civic uprising which has prolonged a gory war in Libya for a decade seems to be coming to an end.  The good news is that fighting has died down in recent months. But both sides were preparing for a possible battle over Sirte, the gateway to Libya’s major oil fields and export terminals, controlled by Hafter. Hopefully, these peace talks will avert that situation.

On the receiving end has been civilians to a large extend. The peace talks were conducted in Cairo, Egypt.