The United Nations Support Mission in Libya welcomed what it said was “the remarkable success recorded by the exchange of detainees from both sides under the supervision of the “5+5″ Joint Military Committee, thanks to the good offices of the tribal sheikhs and elders”.
UNSMIL’s welcome came via a tweet after it had demanded earlier an end to conflicts, saying it would seize this opportunity to urge the parties to speed up the full implementation of the comprehensive ceasefire agreement signed on October 23, 2020 in Geneva, including exchange of all detainees.
It is noteworthy that the 5+5 Joint Military Committee completed the first exchange of detainees between the National Army and the Government of National Accord forces – in the Shwerf region – and the process included the exchange of 15 “detainees” from the GNA forces and “33” from the National Army.
The operation is part of the understandings agreed upon by the Joint Military Committee in its meetings in Sirte, and the rest of the detainees are expected to be released soon.
A member of the Joint Military Committee for the Accord Government, Mukhtar Naqasa, said in a statement to Anadolu Agency that the operation took place under the supervision of the Military Committee, notables from the city of Sabratha and armed formations affiliated with the GNA forces.
