Libya

The Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Jan Kubis concluded Tuesday his first visit to the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, in which he discussed strengthening the UN-AU cooperation in support of Libya and the region.

The head of Libya’s new interim government, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday for talks aimed at boosting cooperation between their nations.

[…] The clearance is part of the effort to facilitate the reopening of the coastal road which in turn is one of the conditions of Libya’s October 2020 ceasefire.

Authorities in western Libya released 120 fighters from a rival eastern force on Wednesday, the latest move towards reconciliation in a UN-backed peace process aimed at ending years of violence. The men were fighting for the 107th Brigade under the command of eastern military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who in April 2019 launched an offensive to seize Tripoli from a unity government.

The Council today extended the mandate of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military operation in the Mediterranean - EUNAVFOR MED IRINI - until 31 March 2023.

Libya's new unity government on Thursday called for the "immediate" withdrawal of all foreign mercenaries, in a call backed by the visiting top diplomats of France, Germany, and Italy.

“The House of Representatives on 10 March overwhelmingly endorsed the Government of National Unity (GNU)”, Ján Kubiš told the Security Council during his first briefing as Special Envoy, and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Over 130 members gathered for the session, which “in itself was a historic political milestone” he said, pointing out that the new cabinet reflects different regions and constituencies.

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Led by interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the Government of National Unity (GNU) replaces both the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and a parallel cabinet headquartered in the Cyrenaica region and not recognised by the international community.

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An arms embargo imposed on Libya by the Security Council in 2011 remains “totally ineffective” a UN Panel of Experts has said, adding that civilians, including migrants and asylum seekers, continue to suffer widespread rights violations and abuses. 

The new cabinet, headed by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, is tasked with implementing a UN-brokered political road map leading to December polls.