Libya’s new unity government on Thursday called for the “immediate” withdrawal of all foreign mercenaries within the country ahead of the forthcoming elections.
“We reiterate the need for the departure of all mercenaries from Libya, and immediately,”
Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush said at a Tripoli
This development is backed by the visiting top diplomats of France, Germany and Italy.
Libya has been under consistent fighting and chaos since 2011 when dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed in an uprising which saw multiple forces aiming for power.
The presence of an estimated 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries on Libya’s territory is seen as a threat to the UN-backed transition leading to December 24 elections.
A ceasefire agreement was upheld in October last year which led to the establishment of the current unity government led by interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
