Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush has stressed the need for “foreign forces” to withdraw from her country.
During a press conference with her Italian counterpart in Rome on Thursday, she called on “illegitimate foreign military forces” to leave Libya in a way that allows for holding elections in secure conditions. Elections are set for December.
She urged the need to activate the outcomes of the Berlin conference to review the means to implement the ceasefire in Libya.
Mangoush’s reference to foreign fighters has been understood as mercenaries, not Turkish and Italian forces that are active in Libya.
She made her remarks shortly after Italian military officials confirmed that their forces will remain in the North African country as part of the bilateral cooperation with the new Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibeh.
Separately, the Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar carried out an air surveillance operation along the Libyan border with Chad in wake of the death of the neighboring country’s president Idriss Déby following injuries sustained during clashes with rebels last week.
Head of the Presidential Council Mohammed al-Menfi had traveled to Chad on Friday to attend his funeral.
The LNA did not release an official statement over the surveillance operation, but commander of the al-Kafra military zone said that forces were on alert to deter any possible instability in the area.
