On Monday, Libyan Foreign Minister, Najla Al-Mangoush met with German Ambassador to Libya, Oliver Owcza. They discussed the illegal immigration crisis and the upcoming elections, in addition to the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country.
The German Ambassador described his meeting with Al-Mangoush as “constructive”, indicating that they looked forward to “supporting the national elections and the withdrawal of foreign forces.” They also discussed “ways to improve immigration management.”
Berlin is set to host a foreign ministers’ conference on Libya in June. In January 2020, the Berlin International Conference on Libya, at the invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel, gathered leaders of eleven countries, as well as the UN. They agreed to unify the country’s institutions, end foreign intervention, respect the UN arms embargo, and implement a ceasefire agreement.
The participants of the Berlin Conference also agreed to form the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), to define the mechanisms for implementing the ceasefire. This is in addition to disarming and dismantling militias in Libya, and relaunching a national reconciliation programme.
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 until general elections at held at the end of 2021.