27/10/2020

UNSC welcomes ceasefire agreement in Libya

NEW YORK / BENGHAZI — On Tuesday, members of the U.N. Security Council welcomed the signing of a permanent ceasefire agreement in Geneva between the warring parties in Libya. In a statement, the UNSC called on the Libyan parties to abide by their pledges and fully implement the agreement.

The statement called on all countries to comply with the arms embargo and not to interfere in the internal affairs of Libya. The signing of the ceasefire agreement coincided with the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani and Minister of Interior of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Fathi Bashagha focused on security cooperation.

The memorandum aroused the ire of Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesman Major General Ahmed al-Mismari who said that Qatar’s signing of a security agreement with the GNA is a violation of the Geneva dialogue, as well as an attempt to undermine what the opposing Libyan parties agreed upon in Geneva regarding the ceasefire and escalation in the region.

Political talks between military representatives of the LNA and GNA are scheduled to take place next month in Tunisia.