Libya's LNA Announces Ceasefire, Warns GNA of Any Attempted Breach

On Wednesday evening, the spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Major General Ahmed Al-Mismari, said that the coming days will see the launch of a constitutional declaration, including a new roadmap aims to meet the aspirations of the Libyan people to live in a safe, democratic and stable country.

Al-Mismari, in a television broadcast, announced that the LNA General Command has approved a ceasefire during the Holy month of Ramadan, stressing that this came at the request of the international community and “friendly countries”.

He also confirmed that any attempt of the armed militias aligned with the Government of National Accord (GNA) to violate the truce would be strictly and immediately dealt with.

Al-Mismari added that the international community must honestly respect the will of the Libyans who still have two roads, either to live in peace after eliminating the extremist militias or be subjected to the Turkish invasion.

Libya has been split since 2014 between the GNA in Tripoli and the LNA in Benghazi in the east.

There was no immediate GNA response to the LNA’s declaration of a ceasefire, but Mismari said the eastern-based forces would reserve the right to respond to attacks.

On Monday, the General Commander of the LNA Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar addressed Libya to announce that the LNA would take over the management of Libya’s affairs.

The LNA commander then announced that the UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) that was signed in Skirhat, Morocco in 2015 had become redundant and was no longer valid.

It is noteworthy that Haftar on Thursday urged Libyans to abandon the LPA agreement and to overthrow the GNA Presidential Council. In 2015, rival Libyan parties signed the Skheirat agreement in Morocco.

He added that the council has threatened the dignity of the people, abandoned the sovereignty of the state, and destroyed its economy by employing oil revenues to support militias and bring in fighters from abroad.

Haftar added that LNA will wage a counter-attack to recapture the two cities that were seized by the GNA earlier this month.

“Sarraj’s joy will not last,” vowed Haftar.