I would like to thank our briefers for their presentations today and for highlighting the important aspects related to the departure of foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya. Estonia is glad to be a co-sponsor of today’s Arria formula discussion that focuses on ways to achieve peace and stability in Libya and in the wider Sahel region. We thank the delegations of Kenya, Niger, Tunisia and the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for raising this important issue.
Estonia aligns itself with the statement that will be delivered later on behalf of the European Union and its member states. I would also like to add a few remarks in my national capacity.
First, it is important to note the progress that has been made in Libya since the signing of the 23 October ceasefire agreement. With the support of UNSMIL’s mediation and the engagement of international partners through the follow-up process of the Berlin Conference, the Libyan parties have made significant steps forward in political, military and economic processes.
There is a clear goal of holding general elections on 24 December, and it is of utmost importance to make all the essential preparations to ensure a credible, transparent and inclusive process. That includes adopting the necessary legal basis in the planned timeframe.
Second, it is unacceptable that the presence of foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya continues despite the deadlines set in the Libyan ceasefire agreement and repeated calls by the Libyans for their departure. We urge all those involved to withdraw all foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya without further delay.
Security Council gave a clear and flexible mandate for the establishment of a credible, realistic and effective ceasefire monitoring mechanism that acts under the UN auspices by unanimously adopting the resolution 2570 (2021). It is now important to implement all necessary measures to allow for the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned ceasefire monitoring mechanism and its international support component to be deployed as soon as possible.
Third, we need to acknowledge the threat that arises from the Libyan conflict to the neighbouring countries, including from the illicit transfer, destabilising accumulation and misuse of weapons, and the flow of armed groups and mercenaries. The killing of the Chadian president in April only highlighted further the threat emanating from the porous borders of the region, in combination with the free flow of weapons and mercenaries that needs to be addressed in a proactive and systematic manner.
The role of Libya, the neighbouring Sahel countries, as well as regional organisations in designing the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes (DDR) is essential. Support from the international community for the DDR initiatives is vital and needs to support the long-term vision of the region’s states.
Finally, from our part, Estonia contributes to the stabilisation efforts both in Libya as well as in the Sahel region through the European Union initiatives. We believe that it is important to support efforts that prevent the flow of arms into Libya in the first place, such as the EU operation IRINI, as well as make wider strategic efforts in the Sahel focusing on good governance and respect for human rights. Estonia remains committed to supporting the peace efforts in Libya and in the Sahel region.
