All mercenaries and foreign fighters must leave Libya within three months from Friday

Libyan warring parties agree on permanent ceasefire

photo_camera PHOTO/AFP - All mercenaries and foreign fighters must leave Libya within three months from Friday

hrough Facebook, the United Nations Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) has announced "a permanent ceasefire in all areas of Libya", signed by the military representatives of the main Libyan factions: the Libyan Joint Military Committee (5+5).

The signing of this permanent ceasefire signifies the consolidation of the provisional ceasefire that was announced in August between the Tripoli National Accord Government (NAG) led by Fayez Sarraj and the interim government of the Tobruk House of Representatives, led by Aguila Saleh and a supporter of Khalifa Haftar, marshal of the LNA.

"The 5+5 Joint Military Commission talks in Geneva today culminate in a historic achievement as Libyan teams reach a permanent ceasefire agreement across Libya. This achievement is an important turning point towards peace and stability in the country," says the UN mission's sta

Equipo de trabajo de la ONU y miembros del 5+5 libio en Ginebra

During the press conference in Geneva, acting UN Chief of Mission Stephanie Williams noted that "the road to a permanent ceasefire agreement was often long and difficult," and despite this achievement, "much work remains to be done in the coming weeks" to implement all the commitments.

The UN Special Envoy expressed hope that the agreement would "end the suffering of the Libyans and allow those displaced by the conflict to return to their homes.

Williams also pointed out that all mercenaries and foreign fighters must leave Libya within three months from Friday.

Colonel Ali Abushahma, head of the delegation representing the ANG, called on those responsible for Libyan troops "to do everything possible to fulfil the agreement responsibly and to rebuild the military apparatus to be a strong hand against anyone who undermines the security and stability of Libya".

On behalf of the Tobruk Parliament, Amhimmid Mohammed Alamami said he was "pleased with the result obtained".

This week, during the round of talks held in Geneva, both parties agreed to reopen land and air routes between the two factions. 

Flights between the Libyan capital and Benghazi resumed on Friday after an 18-month hiatus amidst an easing of tensions between a Tripoli-based administration and rival authorities in the eastern city. "A plane from Afriqiyah Airways ... landed Friday morning at Benina International Airport" from Tripoli's Mitiga Airport, carrying a delegation of Libyan airline representatives along with aviation officials, the National Accord Government said on Facebook. 

PHOTO/AFP-Equipo de trabajo de la ONU y miembros del 5+5 libio en Ginebra

Commercial flights between Benghazi and Tripoli were suspended shortly after Jalifa Haftar launched a military campaign to take the capital in April 2019. Its forces were turned back in June this year. Flights only resumed from Mitiga, the only functioning airport in the Libyan capital, in August after a shutdown due to fighting and coronavirus restrictions.

Libya has been divided since the 2011 Arab Spring riots. After the death of Muammar al-Qadhafi, the energy, economic and health crises are weighing on citizens who have been demonstrating in the streets against the two governments since August.

Libya currently has two executives: the Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, and the eastern parliament of Tobruk, created in 2014 and associated with the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

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