On Sunday, Minister of Defense of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Salah Al-Namroush said that the ceasefire agreement signed by the two Libyan warring sides during the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) talks in Geneva does not extend to the military cooperation agreements previously signed with Turkey.
In a statement, Al-Namroush reaffirmed his government’s keenness to strengthen joint cooperation with Turkey, noting that dozens of GNA soldiers will continue to receive training in Turkey according to the military training and cooperation agreement already in place between both countries.
According to the Geneva agreement, both Libyan sides will evacuate frontlines from fighters and order foreign mercenaries to leave the country within three months from the signing date.
They also agreed to freeze the implementation of military agreements and ensure the departure of training crews until a unified government takes over.
The two sides agreed to form a force of regular soldiers from the 5+5 Joint Military Commission to solve expected violations. The ceasefire does not apply to United Nations designated terrorist groups.
Libya fell into chaos following the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, leading to two rival administrations being established in the western and eastern parts of the country. The GNA is based in the capital, Tripoli, while the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, controls large areas of the east and is supported by the eastern-based government.