On Saturday, France announced that it will co-chair the Security Working Group (SWG) for Libya, along with the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) in January 2021.
The French Embassy in Libya, in a post on their official Twitter account, reiterated France’s support for the 5 + 5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) talks to implement the ceasefire in Libya.
They stressed the need to reopen the coastal roads and to secure the exit of foreign forces from Libya, in addition to the disarmament of the militias aligned with the Government of National Accord (GNA).
Earlier, UNSMIL had announced that the co-chairs of the SWG for Libya, represented by the African Union, France, Italy, Turkey, the United Kingdom as well as UNSMIL, held a virtual meeting to discuss the security situation in Libya and ways to support the work of the 5+5 JMC.
The SWG renewed its call on all parties to accelerate the implementation of the ceasefire, particularly the opening of the coastal road between Abu Qurayn and Sirte, as well as the immediate repatriation of all foreign fighters and mercenaries.
Acting SRSG and Head of Mission Stephanie Williams praised the efforts of the 5+5 JMC and the progress made towards the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement.
This includes the recent exchanges of detainees conducted under the JMC’s supervision, as part of wider confidence-building measures.
It also includes the resumption of flights to all parts of Libya, the reopening of oil production and exports, as well as the proposed unification and restructuring of the Petroleum Facilities Guards.