Even though it did not attend the two Berlin summits, Morocco has become an essential factor in the search for a solution to the Libyan crisis. The Kingdom's recipe lies in its credibility and in the desire of the Libyans to be their privileged interlocutor.

Morocco has become a key player in the Libyan crisis because quite simply it is the Libyans who asked it to be their privileged interlocutor long before the signing of the Skhirat agreement in 2015. And as proof, just after this last summit in Berlin, the president of the parliament Aguila Salah and the head of government, Abdelhamid Dbeibah went to Rabat where they paid a vibrant tribute to the role played by King Mohammed VI to unify Libya and ensure its political and security stability.

Morocco’s foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, reiterated to the two Libyan officials the position of the Kingdom which seeks to bring the views of Libyans closer together without interfering in their affairs as some do. The minister, Bourita, could not be more explicit in asserting that "Libya is not a diplomatic cake for some to argue over it. No, we are talking about the ordeal of a people who have been suffering for years and who want to get out of this crisis through elections and not through taking photos in forums”.

However, Morocco’s role can only fit under the aegis of the United Nations and the efforts of the international community to find a solution to this crisis. It must be said, continues Bourita, solutions that do not take into account the Libyan reality and the will of the Libyans are doomed to failure. "We must therefore guarantee all the conditions for the success of the electoral deadlines scheduled for December 24, which will allow Libyans to enjoy stability, the end of the foreign presence and the development of their country", concludes Minister Nasser Bourita.

In addition to discussions with Moroccan officials, "this visit aims to express the deep gratitude of the Libyans to King Mohammed VI for the efforts he is deploying in order to unify Libyan institutions and ensure the political and security stability of this country”, underlines Dbeibah.

His compatriot, the president of parliament, Aguila Salah, was just as laudatory towards Morocco's efforts, saying that: "it is not possible to do without the involvement of the kingdom in this issue given its diplomatic weight and the pioneering role it plays in the Arab League and within the international community. Especially since by being sincerely involved in the search for a solution to the Libyan crisis, the kingdom does not seek any return on investment, political, diplomatic or economic, insists Aguida Salah.

Morocco role in the Libyan conflict

On every occasion, the Moroccan foreign minister states that the Kingdom of Morocco, under the High Instructions of HM King Mohammed VI, will always stand by the legitimate Libyan institutions and support international efforts to resolve the crisis that this Maghreb country is going through, within the framework of what has been agreed between the various Libyan parties including the holding of elections on their scheduled date.

During a press briefing with the presence of the speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, Morocco’s foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, said that Morocco considers the organization of elections should be the main objective of the next stage in Libya, emphasizing the need for the involvement of all Libyan institutions in the preparations of these elections so that they are held in the best of conditions. Since that, Morocco is in permanent contact with all Libyan institutions including the House of Representatives as a key institution in the process of preparing the elections in Libya (legislative and presidential).

According to the Libyans, Morocco plays a central role in the process of resolving the Libyan crisis, adding that "the Kingdom supports us daily and is in constant contact with us to achieve this goal". Welcoming the major role played by Morocco in this issue, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, praising the historic positions of the Kingdom and its support for the achievement of the will of the Libyan people for the holding of presidential and legislative elections.

Saleh also stressed the need to hold these elections on their scheduled date (December 24), under the supervision of the international community, while ensuring that these polls are honest, noting that all measures have been taken in anticipation of these elections.

Appreciation for Morocco's efforts to unify Libyans

"We suffered during the previous period of divisions" and Skhirat was a place of meetings of the different components of the Libyan people, said Head of the national unity government in Libya, Abdelhamid Dbeibah at a press conference after his talks with the head of Government, Saad Dine El Otmani, adding that "we are grateful to Morocco, the King, the government and the people, to have brought together the Libyans in Bouznika, Skhirat and Tangier".

In this regard, he welcomed the efforts made by Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to support the Libyan cause and support the organization of elections and the political and economic process in Libya.

The Libyan official also expressed the willingness to develop economic relations and investment and promote tourism between the two countries, wishing the lifting of restrictions on the movement of Libyans and Moroccans between the two States as soon as possible.