February 13, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Large-scale counts of foreign fighters in Libya have begun, most of them Sudanese, in preparation for their withdrawal from the north African country.

On February 7-8, the Egyptian capital Cairo hosted the meetings of the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC)), to discuss the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign forces from the country.

UN special envoy for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily chaired the meeting with the participation of a liaison committee from Sudan and Niger.

The 5+5 JMC approved the establishment of an integrated mechanism for joint coordination and data sharing to facilitate the full withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya, according to a statement released by the UN Support Mission in Libya.

A Sudanese diplomatic source told Sudan Tribune that the meeting, also, discussed a plan to evacuate mercenaries and foreign forces.

He added that the plan includes a cooperation mechanism between the parties to remove fighters from Libya.

On 15-16 January, Cairo hosted a meeting of the Military Committee, in which the parties agreed upon the members of the Libyan coordination committee who would work with the committees from Sudan, Chad and Niger.

Several peace signatories and non-signatories armed groups from Sudan have fighters in Libya.

In June 2020, the Sudanese authorities arrested 122 Sudanese, who were on their way to Libya to work as mercenaries.