Haftar Army declares cessation of all military operations during the month of Ramadan in Libya

Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesman Ahmed Mismari announced on Wednesday the cessation of all military operations during the holy month of Ramadan, warning that "any breach of the armistice will be the response of the LNA itself to any kind of attack" and explained that "they are working on a new roadmap to make Libya a stable country," according to Libyan TV channel 218TV. 

The militias loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar - who broadcast a video on Monday night announcing that he was taking political control of Libya - have stressed that "this humanitarian pause is in response to requests from friendly and fraternal countries".  Mismari made this announcement during a press conference held late Wednesday in Benghazi, insisting that "Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar has responded to the demands of the international community for a humanitarian truce in the month of Ramadan, saluting the efforts of these countries to help the Libyans overcome the crisis". 

This is not the first time that such an announcement has been made in the North African nation. Throughout this 2020, both the LNA and the internationally recognized Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) have agreed on up to two ceasefires to alleviate the grave humanitarian situation in which the country has found itself since the death of Muammar Gafadi. However, neither the GNA nor the LNA have kept their promises to reduce hostilities and they have intensified the attacks, bringing the country to the brink of the abyss. 

In the same speech, Al-Mismari indicated that Haftar's intention is "to achieve the goal of eradicating terrorism, dismantling militias, collecting illegal weapons and extending the law to all Libyan territory". To this end, forces loyal to Commander Haftar are developing "a new road map" aimed at realizing "the dreams and aspirations of the Libyans" and making this nation a "stable, secure and democratic country". 
 

The LNA spokesman also stressed how important it was for his army that the international community "respect the will of the Libyans and help them overcome this crisis". He urged the international community to choose between "achieving security and stability, ending terrorism and chaos in Libya by supporting the LNA or supporting the Turkish invasion, extremist militias and chaos". For the moment, the GNA, which is backed by the Turkish government, has not responded to the statement of its rival faction.

The LNA stressed the need to restore stability to the Libyan people, after Haftar announced last Monday that he would take political control of the country, responding to the calls of the Libyan people and leaving behind the agreement signed in 2015 in Morocco, claiming that "it was a thing of the past".  The GNA responded by urging all members of the House of Representatives and the Libyan people to start "a comprehensive dialogue and to continue the democratic path leading to a comprehensive and lasting solution through the ballot box". Following this announcement, Egypt, one of Haftar's main allies, showed its support for the measure, underlining "the need for a political solution to the conflict in Libya", according to Reuters news agency which explained that the Cairo government sees Haftar as a bastion against its common enemy: the Muslim Brotherhood.
 

In recent weeks, the UN has repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Libya to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Following Haftar's announcement on Monday, the US Embassy in Libya reacted by urging the LNA to join the Government of National Accord (GNA) "in declaring an immediate humanitarian cessation of hostilities leading to a durable ceasefire, as formulated in the 5+5 talks under UNSMIL facilitation on February 23 in Geneva". 

Similarly, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Stephanie Williams, stressed on Monday through the social network Twitter "the importance of listening to the Libyans' calls for a humanitarian truce during the holy month of Ramadan and for the resumption of the political process as soon as possible in order to end the ongoing war for the benefit of all Libyans".

This announcement comes after the bombing of a medical facility on Wednesday killed at least one person and injured four others. Haftar's forces said a Turkish drone led by militias allied to the National Accord Government attacked two ambulances in south-west Libya. The LNA - which is supported by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt - has intensified its campaign to take control of Tripoli in recent weeks. 
 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has insisted that the clashes in the southern city of Tarhouna and the bombings near Mitiga airbase, along with severe water shortages in the capital, are "just some of the threats that are preventing our work to protect innocent people from the COVID-19 virus and other health risks," according to the Associated Press. The clashes between the two warring parties have complicated efforts to reduce the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, where there are currently 61 confirmed cases, including two deaths, most of them in the east of the country.