On Friday, UN Envoy for Libya Jan Kubis, called for a sequenced withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, with monitoring provided by the United Nation Support Mission (UNSMIL).
During his briefing on the situation in Libya to the UN Security Council, Kubis affirmed the need to uphold the arms embargo, adding that armed groups are threatening security beyond Libya, as they move across unguarded national borders. He urged for border control to be part of the solution, according to a statement by UNSMIL.
Kubis confirmed that the ceasefire continues to hold, despite efforts to remove foreign mercenaries from Libya having “stalled.”
The UNSMIL Head cited a “renewed hope” for reunification, the restoration of sovereignty, and renewed regional security. He asked the Libyan Parliament for “constitutional clarity” for the upcoming elections, scheduled to be held on 24 December 2021.
Notably, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres confirmed that “foreign fighters are still active in Libya,” and that they were violating the October ceasefire agreement.
Guterres called for the immediate withdrawal of foreign fighters from Libya, and an end to violations of the UN’s arms embargo.
In February, Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba was elected in a UN-brokered peace process. The government is set to lead the country towards general elections at the end of 2021.
