The UN Security Council has unanimously passed a resolution which calls for all foreign forces and mercenaries to leave Libya and gives the green light for a UN team to monitor last October’s historic ceasefire agreement.

The UK-drafted resolution on Friday gives approval to the Secretary-General’s ceasefire monitoring plan, and notes the need for constitutional and legislative backing for Libya’s new electoral process to be in place by 1 July, ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections planned for 24 December 2021.

The Security Council resolution underlines that the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission needs to develop a broader plan specifying how the ceasefire mechanism will be implemented, and how UNSMIL monitors can be deployed.

The monitoring mechanism resolution (2570), also “strongly urges” member states to support the October ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without delay.

Briefing journalists just before the results of voting were disclosed in the Security Council, the UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said that the UN was committed to "helping the political leaders of Libya", noting that "what we want to see, is all foreign fighters leave Libya."

On Thursday, the report was submitted to the Security Council last month, and the UN chief proposed last week a phased deployment for the UNSMIL ceasefire monitoring team, which would require an initial maximum of around 60 personnel, according to details relayed to correspondents in New York.

“They would be deployed to Sirte once all of the requirements for a permanent presence have been met, including, obviously, security, logistical, medical and operational aspects". According to Dujarric, adding that UNSMIL monitors will be working alongside the monitors of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission.

In a second vote announced on Friday afternoon in New York, ambassadors also passed a resolution unanimously, renewing measures relating to the illicit export of petroleum, through to 30 July, 2022.