LNA calls for reaching agreement on the withdrawal of foreign forces from Libya

TRIPOLI, (ST) – Director of the Moral Guidance Department in the Libyan National Army (LNA), Major General Khaled Al-Mahjoub, affirmed that, The 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission must agree on the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country.

“A lot of work has been done. A ceasefire was announced and a highway along the coast was unlocked. Now the second stage has begun, which is to pull out foreign forces and mercenaries. This is very important for stability and the upcoming elections,” Al-Mahjoub told Sputnik.

The upcoming round of negotiations will be difficult but crucial, according to al-Mahjoub, since the withdrawal of foreign troops was one of the preconditions for the merger of the country’s military units.

When asked about the likelihood of a new armed conflict if the sides fail to agree on the troop pullout, the official noted that none of the sides wants the situation to escalate.

“But if it comes to the sovereignty of Libya, its stability and security, then it is in the competence of the armed forces to ensure and preserve it,” al-Mahjoub added.

Following United Nations-facilitated talks held in October in Geneva, Libya’s warring parties signed a nationwide ceasefire agreement. On February  5, the UN-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Geneva voted for a new temporary executive that will be in charge until a national general election  set for December  24.

Raghda Sawas