The UN Security Council called on Friday in a unanimously approved declaration “the withdrawal without further delay of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya”, welcoming the validation by Parliament on Wednesday of the new unified government.
“The Security Council calls on all parties to fully implement the ceasefire agreement (of 23 October) and urges member states to respect and support the full implementation of the agreement,” the statement said.
According to the UN, around 20,000 soldiers and mercenaries were still in Libya at the end of 2020 and no withdrawal movement has been observed to date.
“The Security Council calls for full compliance with the United Nations arms embargo by all member states, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions,” the text also indicates.
This embargo imposed since 2011 has been violated regularly for years according to the UN experts responsible for its control. Their next annual report is expected in the coming days. In the past, these experts have notably denounced the presence in Libya of Russian mercenaries, Turkish troops, and armed groups made up of Syrians, Chadians and Sudanese.
“The Security Council recognizes the need to plan for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed groups, reform of the security sector and to put in place an inclusive and civilian-led security architecture for the whole of the country. Libya, ”the statement added.