UN Urges Withdrawal of Mercenaries from Libya ‘without Delay’

Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Jan Kubis called on Friday for the withdrawal “without delay” of all foreign mercenaries in the North African country.

During a Security Council briefing, he said: “The ceasefire continues to hold. The security situation has significantly improved, although clashes between armed militia groups competing for influence, access to and control of territory and resources do occur from time to time.”

“Confidence-building between the two sides continues. In the past period, hundreds of prisoners and detainees were released by both sides, with releases taking place almost weekly in different parts of the country, particularly during the month of Ramadan,” he remarked.

“Yet, progress on key issues such as the reopening of the coastal road between Sirte and Misrata and the start of the withdrawal of foreign mercenaries, fighters and foreign forces has stalled,” he lamented

“Pulling back a limited number of mercenaries to Benghazi and Tripoli and then flying them out, can commence a balanced and sequenced withdrawal of foreign mercenaries, fighters, and foreign forces,” suggested Kubis.

“This approach, already adopted by the 5+5 Joint Military Committee needs to be complemented by a plan and timelines, agreed with those external forces that are associated with mercenaries and foreign forces in Libya,” he added.

“The continued use, presence, and activities of thousands of mercenaries, foreign fighters, and armed groups is a significant threat not just to Libya’s security but to the region as a whole,” he warned.

“The high mobility of armed groups and terrorists but also economic migrants and refugees, often through channels operated by organized criminal networks and other local players across uncontrolled borders only enhances risks of furthering instability and insecurity in Libya and the region,” noted Kubis.

“It is therefore critical to plan and ensure an orderly departure of foreign fighters, mercenaries, and armed groups together with their disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in the countries of origin,” he continued.

Moreover, he said that the withdrawal of foreign fighters and armed groups with origins in the region “must be accompanied by scaled-up efforts across Libya and the wider region to address root causes of instability, notably through inclusive reconciliation, peacebuilding, and development programs with a focus on the youth and on women empowerment.”

Coordinated, complementary measures and programs supported and co-financed by the international community coupled with resolute international action against criminal gangs of traffickers of people, drugs and weapons and cooperative measures to enhance control in the border areas, including integrated border control and management must be a part of the solution, if it is to be durable and sustainable, he added.

“The common thread running through all the human rights challenges in Libya is impunity, even for the most serious violations of international law. One of the starkest reminders of the horrors of the Libyan conflict is the discovery of over 100 mass graves following the Government of National Accord’s recapture of Tarhuna, a city south of the capital,” he remarked.

“Bilateral sanctions against the Kaniyat militia and its leaders by the United States and the European Union were recently joined by the UK. While international accountability and sanctions are needed, they cannot replace individual national criminal accountability,” said the envoy.

“The rights of victims to truth, justice and reparation have to be central to any process going forward; full accountability for these atrocity crimes is the only way to ensure justice and right-based reconciliation in Libya. Unless Libya addresses violations perpetrated by all sides in the conflict, then any efforts towards sustainable peace will fail.”

On the political level, Kubis said a “critical task” of Libyan authorities and institutions remains to ensure the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections on December 24 as set out in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) roadmap and called for by the Security Council resolution 2570.

“This priority lies at the core of the mandate of the Government of National Unity (GNU). The House of Representatives has the responsibility to clarify the constitutional basis for elections and adopt the necessary electoral legislation. This must be done latest by July 1, to allow Libya’s High National Elections Commission (HNEC) adequate time to prepare for the elections,” he said.

“UNSMIL facilitated the work of the Legal Committee of the LPDF that developed a proposal for the constitutional basis. The LPDF will discuss this at its plenary meeting which is scheduled for May 26 and 27, with a focus on resolving a few opened issues and forwarding the proposed constitutional basis to the House of Representatives and High Council of State.”