The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Officer-in-Charge/Mission Coordinator Raisedon Zenenga arrived in Benghazi on Wednesday to meet members of the 5 + 5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) representing Khalifa Haftar's forces and get an insight into the reasons behind their actions announced in their statement last week.

A post by the UNSMIL on Twitter said the five JMC members from the east shared their concerns over the current situation and its impact on livelihoods in their areas. "They raised pressing and longstanding issues that are now placing the work of the 5+5 and the progress made on the security track at risk."

According to the statement, they told the UN official that it is important for the Government of National Unity (GNU) based in Tripoli to commit to its obligations to the eastern region, which "is playing a critical role" in securing oil production and the stability that currently prevails in Libya.

For his part, Zenenga praised the 5 + 5 JMC for its achievements and reaffirmed the UN commitment to continue efforts to find a lasting solution to the outstanding issues, stressing the importance of avoiding escalation, resolving differences through dialogue, and safeguarding the work and achievements of the 5+5 JMC.

He also called for the JMC’s continued cooperation with the UN, including providing essential support to enable the work of the UN’s Ceasefire Monitoring Component in Sirte.