NEW YORK – UN Security Council Calls For Ceasefire In Libya. The UN Security Council, on Wednesday, adopted a resolution calling for a “lasting ceasefire” in Libya. A fragile truce has been in place there since January. In UNSC, 14/15 votes approved the resolution, with Russia abstaining.
According to details, the resolution affirmed “the need for a lasting ceasefire in Libya at the earliest opportunity, without pre-conditions.” It also expressed “concern over the growing involvement of mercenaries in Libya.” Russia had pushed to replace the word “mercenaries” with “foreign terrorist fighters,” but was unsuccessful.
Libya is in chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Since April 2019, the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) has fought back against military commander Khalifa Haftar. Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates support Haftar.
A fragile ceasefire was established in Libya on January 12. At an international summit in Berlin a week later, world leaders agreed to end all foreign interference in Libya and to uphold a weapons embargo. UN Security Council Calls For Ceasefire In Libya.
The resolution further called for continued negotiations by the joint military commission set up in January between the two sides, with the goal of achieving a “permanent ceasefire.” This would include a monitoring system, a separation of forces and confidence-building measures.
The commission’s Geneva meeting ended Saturday without a resolution, but the UN proposed resuming talks from February 18. The resolution also called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to submit proposals for monitoring the ceasefire.
According to UN statistics, more than 1,000 people are dead in the clashes between Haftar and the GNA. While another 140,000 displaced.