Cairo hosted on Tuesday 7/2/2023 meetings of the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) to discuss the departure plan for mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Abdoulaye Bathily and representatives of Libya’s neighboring countries – Sudan, Chad, and Niger – participated in the JMC meetings, that are planned to last for two days.

The head of the UNSMIL voiced appreciation of the Egyptian government ‘s continued support of all efforts aimed at realizing peace and stability in Libya.

Bathily said the security track “is an important pillar” for paving the way to establishing a favorable political and economic environment in Libya.

During the meeting on Tuesday, Bathily said the two-day discussions aim to activate the Libyan liaison committees agreed upon in November 2021 in Cairo, within the framework of preparing for the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries.

Bathily noted that the last meeting of the JMC, held on 15-16 January, made progress, including as regards the nomination of members of the Libyan Liaison Committee to let them to work hand-in-hand with their counterparts from Sudan, Chad and Niger.

“Your work is of great importance for the implementation of the action plan for the withdrawal of foreigners and mercenaries,” said Bathily, adding that he attended “a fruitful meeting” with the ambassadors of Sudan, Niger and Chad last week, where they expressed their desire to support the UNSMIL and the Libyan actors to “find permanent solutions to the challenges raised and to cooperate with their Libyan brothers.”

The UN diplomat also thanked the JMC for its efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement and the steps it has taken so far, in order to activate the action plan signed in Geneva in October 2021 under the auspices of the UNSMIL.

Source: State Information Service Egypt