UN urges withdrawal of mercenaries from Libya, welcomes unity government

The United Nations Security Council has called for an immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya as the conflict-ridden North African country ushers in a new era with the formation of a national unity government.

In an unanimously approved declaration, the Security Council urged foreign fighters to leave Libya “without further delay”.

It also welcomed the Libyan parliament’s approval of a new unified government, which is set to lead the North African country to December elections after a decade-long conflict.

"The Security Council calls on all parties to implement the ceasefire agreement in full and urges member states to respect and support the full implementation of the agreement," the world body said in a statement.

A ceasefire agreement reached in October called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries in three months and adherence to a UN arms embargo, provisions which have not been met.

The UN said in December last year that there were about 20,000 foreign troops and mercenaries helping the opposing sides in Libya.

Calling for full compliance with the UN arms embargo by all member states, the 15-member body stressed on Saturday that plans were needed “for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of armed groups, security sector reform and to establish an inclusive, civilian-led security architecture for Libya as a whole.”

Moreover, the council welcomed the parliamentary approval of Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah’s cabinet.

It said the new Libyan government should take necessary preparations to set Libya for "free and fair national presidential and parliamentary elections on 24 December 2021."

Libya's parliament granted a vote of confidence to Dbeibeh’s new unity government on Wednesday, with 132 votes of the 133 lawmakers who attended the session.

SS