UN chief to present mechanisms of ceasefire surveillance in Libya to Security Council

12 Mai 2020

Tripoli, Libya, May 12 (Infosplusgabon) – The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Monday announced his intention to report, as quickly as possible, to the Security Council on the needed conditions for the establishment of an efficient surveillance mechanism for a ceasefire in Libya under the aegis of the world body.

In a report on the work of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) since January submitted to the Security Council, Mr Guterres also indicated his intention to submit detailed recommendations to the Council on the possible modalities for ceasefire, when Libyan parties will accept the ceasefire, in accordance with resolution 2510 (2020).

The report of the UN Secretary-General expressed "disappointment" as the positive signs issued by the Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA) in response to the appeal for humanitarian truce in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic are yet to materialise into ceasefire.

Mr Guterres, however, expressed optimism about the "constructive talks" held by the Libyan joint 5+5 military commission and the drafting of a ceasefire.

Mr Guterres reaffirmed his appeal to the two warring parties to accept the draft ceasefire and take step towards its application, saying he is "deeply concerned" about the fact that the new escalation of the violence can have impacts on the process of fragile efforts made and complicate further the process aiming to find peaceful solution to the extended Libyan conflict.

The UN Secretary-General noted in his report the occurrence of 850 violations of the ceasefire in Libya between 12 January and 21 April.

He underlined that there are at least 131 civilian victims, including at least 64 killed from January to 31 March, noting "an unprecedented increase in the random bombardments" observed in urban zones, which left several civilian victims, damaged civilian infrastructure and disrupted the commercial air operations.

"After a relative drop in hostilities following the 12 January truce which the presidents of the Russia and Turkey called for and which the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army accepted, fighting has resumed progressively," according to the report.

The two parties have resumed the deployment of forces all along the frontlines in the region of Tripoli, he noted.

He underlined that as at last 21 April, the war in Tripoli had forced more than 300,000 people to leave their homes in the capital and its nearby zones because of the armed conflict since 4 April 2019 when LNA forces under Khalifa Haftar launched a major offensive to take the city. He has largely been repelled and appears to be on the back foot.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/GVB/GABON2020

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