Libya | 20,000 soldiers and mercenaries are still in the country, says UN

Defence Redefined

03/12/2020

About 20,000 foreign soldiers and mercenaries are still in Libya, despite the ceasefire agreement signed in October, the UN interim envoy to the country said today, calling the situation a “shocking violation of Libyan sovereignty.”

“Today there are 10 military bases in your country (…) that are fully or partially occupied by foreign forces,” said Stephanie Williams, addressing the participants in the Libyan Political Forum.

The aim of this body, under the auspices of the UN, is to bring Libya out of the serious political crisis in which it is immersed. The new round of talks is being held by teleconference, following the first round held in mid-November in Tunis.

An agreement was then reached to hold “national” elections on December 24, 2021, but not on who will take over the government during this transitional period. This issue deeply divides the Libyan political class.

“There are 20,000 foreign soldiers or mercenaries in your country today. It is a shocking violation of Libyan national sovereignty. You may think these foreigners are your guests, but today they have taken over your house,” Williams warned. The UN interim envoy also spoke of the “blatant violation of the arms embargo”, stressing that Libya “does not need more weapons”.

“Foreign forces are not in Libya for your own interests, but for theirs,” he said.

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