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· The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution that called for all foreign forces and mercenaries to leave Libya immediately
· It also endorsed a ceasefire monitoring component to monitor last October’s historic ceasefire agreement, which is separate from the UN ceasefire monitoring mechanism
· The presence in Libya of Turkish foreign troops and Russian, Syrian, Chadian and Sudanese mercenaries has been a big concern
The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution that called for all foreign forces and mercenaries to leave Libya immediately. It also endorsed a ceasefire monitoring component to monitor last October’s historic ceasefire agreement, which is separate from the UN ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
The UN also passed a resolution renewing measures relating to the illicit export of petroleum. Oil-rich Libya descended into conflict after Dictator Moamer Kadhafi was toppled and killed in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. Since then multiple forces were vying for power in the North African country.
The resolution stressed the need to provide for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed groups and all non-state armed actors, security sector reform and the creation of an inclusive and accountable defense architecture for Libya.
It also called on all Libyan parties to fully implement the October 23, 2020 ceasefire and strongly urged all member states to respect it, including with the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya.
The presence in Libya of Turkish foreign troops and Russian, Syrian, Chadian and Sudanese mercenaries has been a big concern, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said recently. But, he said, the mission of unarmed UN civilian observers would be focused on the ceasefire. However, it has to be seen how that will be implemented since the mercenaries may not go away just by bidding by UN. Countries in the region, including Niger, are also worried about mercenaries being scattered across the Sahel to fuel the violence that is difficult to control.
The Russian mercenaries say they would not leave until the Turks leave, while the Turks maintain that they have a legal basis to stay there.
