The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres called on all Libyan and international parties to work together to implement the plan for the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya.
Guterres welcomed the agreement reached in Geneva, by Libya’s 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) on a comprehensive Action Plan for the gradual, balanced, and sequenced withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters, and foreign forces from Libyan territory.
He noted that the Action Plan is a cornerstone in the implementation of the October 2020 ceasefire agreement. Guterres believes that “the deployment of an initial team of United Nations ceasefire monitors will contribute to creating the conditions for successful implementation of the Action Plan.”
On 8 October, the JMC signed a comprehensive Action Plan for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Libya. This will be the cornerstone for the “gradual, balanced, and sequenced process of the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces from Libyan territory.”
The proposed plan is a nationally owned and led instrument. This is key to regaining Libya’s sovereignty and integrity, and maintain the peace, stability, and security of the country.
Commending the recent breakthrough by the JMC, Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Jan Kubis welcomed the signing of the Action Plan. He described it as “another breakthrough achievement by the 5+5 JMC.”
Kubiŝ said, “I am honoured to witness this historic moment at this critical juncture in Libya’s path towards peace and democracy.