French foreign minister in Libya to push peace deal

French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian met with Libyan political leaders on Monday to offer support for a deal aimed at stabilizing the strife torn North African country.

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Seraj and the divided nation’s eastern commander Khalifa Haftar signed an agreement in Paris in July committing them to a conditional ceasefire and to work toward elections in 2018. The deal did not include other key factions.

“A united Libya with well organised institutions is very necessary if we must avoid terrorist threats and focus on reconciliation,” French Foreign minister, Jean Yves Le Drian said.

The French minister’s visit is in line with President Emmanuel Macron’s push for a deeper French role in bringing Libyan factions together in the hope of countering militant violence and easing Europe’s migrant crisis.