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Arab League Welcomes Withdrawal of Foreign Forces from Libya
[LIBYAREVIEW] On Saturday, the Arab League...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing... welcomed the signing of a long-awaited Action Plan to withdraw mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya, after years of fighting between warring factions across the oil-rich country.The so-called 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) announced that it had signed a comprehensive Action Plan. This will be the cornerstone for the gradual, balanced, and sequenced process of the withdrawal of mercenaries, imported muscle and foreign forces from Libyan territory. In press statements, an official source in the General Secretariat of the vaporous Arab League praised the tireless and continuous efforts of the JMC to establish the ceasefire agreement, since it was signed last October. It will implement all its provisions, as a main step for the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections as scheduled. He also called on all international and regional partners to cooperate and provide support for the implementation of this plan. He stressed the importance of unifying the country’s military institution and ensuring the full disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of gangs deployed in the Libyan territory. In addition, the Arab League stressed that the signing of the Action Plan would fully consolidate Libya’s illusory sovereignty, and guarantees its security and territorial integrity. Notably, the United National Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the step, saying it is cornerstone for the gradual, balanced, and sequenced process of the withdrawal of mercenaries. It added that, "in alignment with the Ceasefire Agreement of the 23rd of October 2020, respective United Nations ...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks... Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, 2570 and 2571 (2021) on Libya, and the outcomes of the Berlin Conference, the Action Plan is a nationally owned and led instrument, that is key to support the Libyans in regaining their illusory sovereignty and integrity, maintain the peace, stability, and security of their country." Since the 2011 fall of former ruler Muammar Gadaffi, Libya has descended into crises on multiple fronts. Until recently, the country had essentially been divided between the Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... -based Government of National Accord (GNA), and a rival administration, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar  ...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all. Actually, he is, but slowly..., who commands the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA). Mercenaries and other fighters from outside Libya have reportedly been operating inside the country for years, including some previously involved in the Syria conflict. Posted by: Fred 2021-10-10 |
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