Historic inclusive JMC 5+5 tripoli meeting – raises hope for elections and permanent peace?

The 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), in the presence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) of the United Nations for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, organized a historic meeting between commanders of the military and security units in the western, eastern, and southern regions in Tripoli yesterday.

UNSMIL said this was the first inclusive meeting in Libya for a decade. “I call on all leaders in the east, west and south to support consolidating peace in Libya,” SRSG Bathily said, noting that security and military leaders will play an important role in advancing consensus on security and other key matters on the path to elections.

The discussion, held at the Rixos complex, focused on the role of the military and security institutions in providing a conducive environment for advancing the political process and holding free and fair elections during 2023. It was a follow up on the JMC’s commitment at the last meeting in Tunis on 15 March.

The meeting in Tripoli emphasized the following points:

1. The dialogue should be Libyan–Libyan and inside Libya.
2. Rejection of foreign interference in Libyan affairs.
3. Full commitment to the outcomes of the dialogues between the military and security commanders that were decided during their first and second meetings held respectively in Tunis and Tripoli.
4. Rejection of fighting and all forms of violence throughout the entirety of Libya’s territory.
5. Continuation of work towards unifying the military institutions through the Chiefs of Staff; unifying the security institutions; and the rest of the state institutions.
6. Forming a unified government for all Libyan state institutions.
7. Increasing efforts to address the challenges facing those displaced and those affected by fighting and wars.
8. Completion of national reconciliation and reparation efforts.
9. Commitment to pursue elections and the need for the House of Representatives and the High Council of the State to complete the tasks entrusted with them.

It was also agreed to hold the next meeting during the month of Ramadan in Benghazi.

After the meeting, the guest members of the 5+5 were taken on a tour of Tripoli nightlife during the fasting month of Ramadan. The tour included a walkabout in the Old City and Marcus Aurelius Arch areas where a Ramadan Nights festival was being held.