As the Government of National Accord (GNU) starts to gain traction domestically and internationally, other Libyan players react to Libya’s new political reality.
On 31 March, 120 prisoners from the LNA’s 107 Infantry Brigade, who were captured during the LNA’s assault on Tripoli in April 2019, were released from prison in an official ceremony in Zawiyya. The ceremony was attended by Presidential Council (PC) members together with a number of representatives of the GNU and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The GNU Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba hailed the move as ‘positive progress’ towards national reconciliation.
On 31 March, Dabaiba held his first meeting in his capacity as interim Minister of Defence with the directors of the Ministry of Defence. He called on the directors to improve their performance to create a national army that can ensure Libya’s sovereignty.
On 5 April, the Vice-President of Libya’s Presidential Council Abdullah al-Lafi announced the creation of a High National Reconciliation Commission. According to al-Lafi, the Commission will be tasked with the project of ensuring national reconciliation in Libya, but will not offer immunity for crimes against humanity.
On 5 April, Khalifa Haftar hosted the first meeting of a new forum for ‘armed forces officers’ at the Libyan National Army (LNA) headquarters in Rajma. The meeting was attended by the LNA Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Abdul Razaq al-Nadhouri, the heads of the LNA land, sea, and air forces, the directors of specialist departments, and officers from brigade, battalion, and unit levels.