Brigadier General Ahmed Al-Mesmari, a spokesman for the Libyan army, has confirmed that the army leadership’s commitment to remove foreign militias from Libyan territory, in reference to Turkish-backed militias. He has stressed the military leadership’s rejection of any proposal by any local or foreign party that recognizes the survival of any foreign force or mercenaries.
Al-Mesmari also has indicated that it was not acceptable to keep any militias in Libya under the pretext of agreements that the GNA, affiliated with the MB, had previously signed with external parties. He has pointed out that the Army’s General Command adheres to the peace path and the necessity of combating terrorism, especially in the southwest.
In the same context, Al-Mesmari has called on both the new government and the Presidential Council to abide by what was agreed at the first and second Berlin conferences, including the exit clause for all foreign forces and mercenaries before the elections. He has asked the members of the UN Security Council to work on a clear vision that imposes the integrity of the upcoming electoral process scheduled for the end of this year.
In addition, the military spokesman has stressed the Libyan army’s support for the work of the 5 + 5 Military Committee, as well as to its rejection of any action or direction that affects it and its decisions.
A few days ago, Najwa Wahiba, a spokeswoman for the Libyan presidential council, revealed that work had begun on a new phase of unifying the Libyan military institution, one of the biggest challenges facing the executive authority ahead of the upcoming general elections, scheduled for the end of this year. Wahiba indicated that the Libyan government was in negotiations with the political parties that would lead to the appointment of a consensus figure to the post of Minister of Defense.
