On 13 September, an agreement – sponsored by the Presidential Council (PC) and brokered by Turkish intelligence – was reached between Government of National Unity (GNU) PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba and Rada to de-escalate the situation in Tripoli.
As part of the arrangement, Rada will withdraw from Mitiga International Airport and shut down its offices there. Responsibility for securing the airport will be transferred to a security battalion operating under the GNU Ministry of Defense. Rada will be able to keep its HQ on the military side of Mitiga Airport. Only airport staff, police, intelligence agencies and passport control will be present at the civilian airport terminal. The security battalion will secure the terminal from the outside.
Rada will revert to its positions held prior to 12 May. The agreement also orders the return of government security forces – previously deployed to Tripoli from Misrata and other cities – back to their original bases within a week.
Mitiga Prison, which had been under the control of Rada, will be handed over to the Ministry of Justice. The Ain Zara and Al-Jadida prisons are to be placed under the authority of the Judicial Police under its newly appointed leadership, with all wanted individuals transferred to the proper judicial channels. The deal explicitly prohibits any arrests or detentions outside the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s Office. In order to stabilize the capital, the Tripoli Security Directorate will assume full responsibility for its security. Any other armed groups will be restricted to a single headquarters each within the city and are required to refrain from any involvement in political affairs.
The head of the Judicial Police Department will be jointly selected by the GNU and Rada. Prison administration and detainee affairs will be placed solely under the authority of the Attorney General, with no interference from the executive branch.
The Security Arrangements Committee, which was established by the PC in May, will oversee the on-ground implementation of the agreement. The General Staff’s 107th Battalion, commanded by Ramzi al-Qamoudi (from Zawiyya), was tasked by the PC to take over airport security at Mitiga as the Airport Security Battalion. A unified neutral force will be established to secure the other airports in northern Tripolitania, namely Tripoli International, Misrata, and Zuwara.
The Souq al-Jumaa Movement explained in an official statement that the agreement was reached with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including Rada, the Souq al-Jumaa Movement and representatives from the Western Region, and emphasized that it does not constitute a concession by Rada but reflects the imposition of mutually accepted conditions.
The agreement has begun to be implemented, although there have been some challenges and opposing positions.
On 13 September in the evening, the 107th Battalion arrived at Mitiga, equipped with light weapons, and started to take over security from Rada. On 14 September in the afternoon, a confrontation erupted at Mitiga Airport after soldiers of the 107th Battalion allegedly disrupted reception staff operations and issued directives outside of their mandate. The interference triggered a one-hour suspension of activities in the departure lounge as staff ceased work in protest.