Libyan officials have reopened Tripoli’s Maritime Studies Academy on Thursday, ten years after it closed. To commemorate the event, a parade was organised at the Academy, west of Tripoli.
Speaking on the sidelines of the celebrations, Academy Commander Abdel-Rahman Milad noted that they began accepting new students on 10 December. He added that 130 students had been accepted, with new students able to apply.
According to Abdel-Wahid Ali Omar, Commander of the Naval High School associated with the institution, the objective now is to revitalise the high school.
Earlier this month, the Chief of Staff of Libya’s Western-based Army, Major General Mohamed Al-Haddad, and the designated Commander in Chief of the Eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), Lieutenant-General Abdulrazek Al-Nathouri, on Saturday in Sirte. The meeting was the first of its kind between the two parties after a number of positive meetings, which brought together military leaders in the Shwerf region.
After the meeting, Al-Nathouri said that the meeting “was very cordial and our understanding is faster than what the Libyan people expect. We, the Libyans, will unify the military establishment without foreign interference.” He added that the meeting was “purely” Libyan-led, and that “all points of view are similar.”
Al-Nathouri stressed that the responsibility of the military institution is to protect the homeland and the constitution, as well as to preserve the institution itself. “We agreed to unify the military institution, soon, without any interference from anyone. We will unite it as its sons,” he noted.
He added that other meetings will be held between the two parties in the coming days, “we are waiting for the 5 + 5 Joint Military Committee (JMC) to join these meetings, which will be consecutive without interference from any foreign party.”
Al-Nathouri indicated that the military institution would continue to distance itself from any interactions “between the Libyan people, or between politicians and parties because its responsibility is to protect the homeland, the constitution, and the political process.” He pointed out that this institution will not neglect the right of the army, which all successive governments have for over a decade.
“These rights are represented in the army’s budgets and the funds allocated for training and the provision of military clothing and supplies. This is in light of the governments’ claims of its desire to rebuild the army. We will not interfere in civilian life but will also not allow civilians to manipulate the army and military institution,” he added.
Al-Nathouri stressed the army’s desire to rebuild the military institution to protect the borders. He explained that this will reflect positively on the security of Libya, and its neighbouring countries. He called on these countries not to interfere in the internal affairs of Libya.