Libya government announces immediate ceasefire

Libya’s internationally-recognized government has announced a nationwide ceasefire and called for demilitarization in the strategic city of Sirte, which is held by strongman Khalifa Haftar’s rebels.

The Tripoli-based government said in a statement on Friday that Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj had “issued instructions to all military forces to immediately cease fire and all combat operations in all Libyan territories.”

The government also called for an end to a blockade imposed by the rebels on oil facilities in eastern Libya.

The rebels started the blockade on the oil facilities in January, when they managed to take control of oil fields and export terminals in the east.

In a separate statement, the speaker of the eastern-based pro-rebel parliament, Aguila Saleh, also called for a cessation of hostilities.

There was no immediate comment from Haftar or his rebel militia.

But the United Nations Support Mission in Libya welcomed the two statements and urged the expulsion of all foreign forces and mercenaries from the North African country.

The developments offered hope for a de-escalation of the conflict in Libya. Most recently, Sirte was becoming a flashpoint of the conflict, as the two rival seats of power in Libya mobilized around the city.

Sirte fell into the rebel’s hands in January. The Libyan government vowed to retake control.

The foreign patrons of both the government and the rebels also focused their efforts on the city.

SS