A small team of UN observers to support planning and monitoring of the ceasefire in Libya, arrived in the African country on Wednesday, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced on Thursday.
“In line with the recommendation of the Secretary-General in his report of 29 December 2020 and following the Security Council’s request of 4 February, the UN deployed a small advance team to Libya earlier yesterday (Wednesday),” the UNSMIL statement said.
It said the advance team will help advance UN planning, in close consultation with the 5+5 Joint Military Committee, and provide the basis for evolving UN support to the Libyan-led and -owned Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism (LCMM).
The team will also prepare inputs for the report requested by the Security Council, UNSMIL stressed.
The observer mission will report its findings to the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) through the Assistant Secretary-General and the UNSMIL Coordinator, the statement said.
Last October, a permanent ceasefire agreement was signed in Geneva by the parties to the conflict in Libya under the auspices of the United Nations covering, inter alia, the withdrawal of the warring troops from the lines of contact and the departure of foreign fighters and mercenaries from the country. But its implementation has been delayed.
Libya is preparing to hold a session of Parliament in Sirte, 450 km from Tripoli, this month to pass a vote confidence in the Government of National Accord (GNA) responsible for managing the transition and overseeing the organization of general elections on 24 December. (PANA/NAN)