Since Wednesday, November 1, more than 260 local and foreign companies have been attending an international forum organized by the government of eastern Libya to bring together proposals for the reconstruction of Derna, devastated by deadly floods in September. Although not recognized internationally, the parallel executive had announced, after the Derna tragedy, a major international conference for October 10, postponed to the beginning of November.

Faced with skepticism from the international community, notably the UN and the United States, the government in the east of the country had lowered its ambitions, evoking a meeting “open to international” and Libyan companies. “More than 400 participants and 260 companies” from around ten countries, “including the United States, France, Russia, China and Turkey,” are present at this forum, the organizing committee said in a press release. transmitted to AFP.

On the night of September 10-11, Storm Daniel hit the eastern coast of Libya, causing flooding amplified by the failure of two dams upstream of Derna, which left thousands dead and missing and more than 40,000 displaced.

Libya, plunged into chaos since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, is governed by two rival executives: one in Tripoli (west), led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah and recognized by the UN, the other in is the country, embodied by Parliament and affiliated with the camp of Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Rebuild the city

The forum, organized by “the Libyan government and the command of the armed forces” loyal to the strong man of the East, takes place over two days, the first in Derna and the second in Benghazi, stronghold of Marshal Haftar, who was seated in the front row during the opening ceremony.

“The primary objective of this forum is to discuss and consult on a specific vision” for the reconstruction of Derna, underlined the head of the eastern government, Osama Hamad. “The government intends to launch vast projects to achieve these objectives,” he added at the opening.

For its part, the European Union (EU) mission in Libya has stated its intention to “participate only as an observer at the technical level”. “Our participation will not constitute an endorsement of any unilateral reconstruction initiative, nor of the status of any Libyan participant,” the EU said in a statement.

Regarding the conference wanted by the east of the country, the United States estimated, at the end of September, via its ambassador to Libya Richard Norland, that it would be “much more effective if it were carried out jointly” by the two rival camps. . They also asked that “funds be used transparently” and go “to people in need.”