On 16 March, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the UK (in its role as the current lead co-chair of the Security Working Group of the Berlin Process International Follow-up Committee) hosted a meeting to discuss the way forward in the security track, the continued implementation of the Ceasefire agreement and the reunification of the military institutions. Participants included the Libyan National Army (LNA) Chief of Staff Abdurrazaq al-Nadhouri, the Government of National Unity (GNU) Chief of Staff Muhammed al-Haddad, Joint Military Commission (JMC) members, and ambassadors of the other Security Working Group co-chairs France, Turkey, Italy and the African Union. UK Ambassador to Libya Caroline Hurndall stressed that ‘ensuring a safe and secure environment is critical’ for holding elections and requires all political and security actors to engage in constructive dialogues on election security. She said that the international community stands ready to support Libya in these efforts. Participants discussed the roles and responsibilities of and equipment for the joint military force that was agreed to be established in previous meetings as well as the preparations required for the withdrawal of the foreign forces, fighters and mercenaries ahead of their return to their countries of origin. The joint force will reportedly be formed from three battalions from Tripoli, Cyrenaica and the Fezzan and would be deployed in the South as a first step towards reunifying the Libyan army. The joint force would be under the joint command of Haddad and Nadhouri.
