The Secretary-General of the United Nations had welcomed the official opening of the coastal road, in the presence of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), effective 30 July 2021.

In a statement on Saturday,

Antonio Guterres said the opening of the coastal road is an important and long-awaited development for the people of Libya.

He welcomed in particular the crucial efforts of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) and extended his appreciation to the Presidential Council and the Government of National Unity for their support in securing this critical step. 

The Secretary-General also renewed his call to all concerned national and international stakeholders to expedite the implementation of the October 2020 Libyan Ceasefire Agreement, and to work together to implement the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum Roadmap and hold national elections on 24 December 2021.

Guterres reiterated, according to the statement, the support of the United Nations to the people of Libya in their efforts to advance peace and stability.

Meanwhile, UNSMIL welcomed the official opening of the coastal road, in the presence of its representatives, saying is another step in strengthening peace, security, and stability in the country, and in the unification of its institutions.

UN envoy Jan Kubis indicated that the next major step in the Ceasefire Agreement’s implementation process is to commence the withdrawal of all mercenaries, foreign fighters, and forces from Libya without delay, starting with the withdrawal of the first groups of foreign mercenaries and fighters from both sides.

The JMC called on UNSMIL to facilitate a meeting with international stakeholders to discuss a plan for the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters, and foreign forces from Libya without delay.

UNSMIL added that the JMC also requested the expeditious deployment of the UN Ceasefire monitors in support of the Libyan-led Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism.

Meanwhile, Kubis reaffirmed the UN’s commitment and continued support to the work of the JMC as well as its support for the requests of the Commission, assuring the JMC that he will work with all relevant national and international stakeholders to advance the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement.