The Joint Military Committee of the 5 + 5 committee held its second meeting in Sirte. To discuss the mechanism to expedite the opening of the coastal road, and to complete its discussions with the Mission regarding the requirements for sending United Nations observers; To support the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism.
The mission welcomes
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya welcomed the meeting of the “5 + 5” committee in the city of Sirte, which confirmed that it will continue until February 7, and will focus on expediting the opening of the coastal road; In order to enable the safe passage of citizens, goods and humanitarian aid.
The mission explained that the meeting will be attended by demining experts from both sides, in addition to experts from the mission. To provide technical support and discuss ways to proceed with the clearance of mines and remnants of war in the areas under the control of each party.
The mission added that the committee would complete its discussions with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya regarding the requirements for sending UN observers. To support the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, which the UN Security Council called upon to deploy international observers to implement the provisions of the ceasefire agreement in Libya.
Abo Shahma we seek to remove the mercenaries
For his part, the head of the reconciliation government team in the military committee, Major General Ahmed Abo Shahma, confirmed in press statements Thursday that all the efforts of the Joint Military Committee is to end the fighting and seek to remove the mercenaries.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Government of National Accord announced that the most important items that will be raised at the meeting are the exit of foreign mercenaries, the presence of international civilian observers, and the obstacles facing the opening of the coastal road, in addition to the issue of “identity” detainees, confirming that the committee will come out after the meeting with a set of recommendations that will be announced at the time.
AFRICOM expresses its concern about the presence of mercenaries
In a related context, the Colonel in the US Air Force and Director of Public Affairs at AFRICOM, Christopher Karns, said Thursday that the United States is concerned about the role played by Russia through the “Wagner” group in Libya.
In a press interview, Karns stressed that AFRICOM continues to oppose foreign military intervention in Libya, and supports the ceasefire agreement and the immediate withdrawal of foreign military forces and mercenaries, and the urgent need for Russia’s proxy forces to leave, whose numbers are estimated at about two thousand fighters from Wagner in Libya.
