UNSMIL welcomes release of pro-Hafter prisoners of war – released as part of a national reconciliation initiative

By Sami Zaptia.

London, 1 April 2021:

UNSMIL welcomed yesterday the efforts by Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) on national reconciliation, launched with the release yesterday of 107 pro-Khalifa Hafter prisoners of war held by the city of Zawia.

It commended the contribution of Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) members, Zawia Security Directorate, tribal elders and the people of Zawia to this initiative and said that it remains committed to continue assisting such efforts upon requests of the GNU.

UNSMIL said it hopes that this initiative constitutes the beginning of nationwide reconciliation and of restoring Libya’s social fabric. It called for the release of all detainees before the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in mid April.

The prisoner release initiative was that of the Zawia City Dialogue Committee under the banner “For the sake of the stability of the homeland” to release prisoners captured during Hafter’s war on Tripoli between April 2019 and June 2020.