Following UNSMIL’s statement expressing its concern over recent military mobilisations, the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States said in a joint statement yesterday that they ‘‘share concerns reflected in UNSMIL’s statement about ongoing military movements in Libya’s southwest region. In the context of the continued stalemate in the political process, such movements risk escalation and violent confrontation and could put the 2020 ceasefire at risk.
We echo UNSMIL’s call on the parties to exercise maximum restraint.
Given genuine concerns about border security all along Libya’s southern frontiers, we also encourage security forces east and west to seize this opportunity to deepen consultation and collaboration in order to deploy effective measures to secure the borders and safeguard Libya’s sovereignty.’’
