Libya - Q&A - (Jan 4, 2022)

Q: Have the 300 “mercenaries and foreign fighters” that were supposed to leave Libya at France’s request left the country?

A: France supports the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement of October 2020 and the Joint Military Commission’s action plan of October 2021 for the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces. Together with the Libyans, the UN and all participants in the International Conference for Libya held in Paris on November 12, France called for foreign troops and mercenaries to leave Libyan soil and applauded the announcement of an initial withdrawal of 300 mercenaries that immediately followed.

That initial withdrawal did take place, sending the first positive signal after the November 12 conference. It must now be followed by the swiftest possible implementation of a complete withdrawal process for mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces led and directed by the Libyans and supervised by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).