On 7 April, the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) held a meeting in Benghazi that brought together military and security leaders from the West, East and South. Attended by UN Special Envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily, the meeting aimed to enhance confidence among the different actors ‘in support of the political process and to move forward with creating a conducive environment for holding free and fair elections’ in 2023, as well as to ensure all parties accept the results. According to the concluding statement, the participants expressed commitment to the conclusions of the dialogue, reaffirmed their willingness to provide all forms of support to secure all stages of the elections, and supported the efforts of the 5+5 JMC and its Libyan Liaison Committees on the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign fighters.
They also initiated practical measures to address the issues facing internally displaced and missing persons and ensure their safe return through coordination among security agencies across the country. On the question of detainees held by both sides, they exchanged information, considered practical steps to exchange detainees as soon as possible, and expressed appreciation for the initiative of the GNU General Command to release six detainees from the western region who are held in custody for security issues. Finally, the participants agreed to hold their next meeting in Sebha after Ramadan.