Libya's 5+5 Military Commission announces reopening of major coastal road

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The coastal road linking eastern and western Libya was officially reopened on Friday ending ending a two-year closure, the 5+5 Joint Military Commission announced after its meeting in Sirte, about 450 km east of Tripoli.

On 20 June, the Prime Minister Abdelhamid al-Dbaiba announced the opening of the section of the road linking Misrata to Abu Grein. However, the section between Sirte and Abu Grein, controlled by the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, remained closed under the pretext of the need for rehabilitation works.

In a statement issued on Friday, the 5+5 Joint Military Commission reassured citizens and users of the road that it is under the control of the Security Arrangements Committee under its supervision.

The Commission assured the public that it will take all security measures in a professional and fully impartial manner to ensure the safety and security of users.

The Commission also reaffirmed in its communiqué its previous decision to prevent the movement of military convoys on the coastal road that currently runs from the Abu Grein security post to the 30 km post west of Sirte.

The Commission called on all official bodies and authorities to coordinate in advance with its Security Arrangements Committee regarding the movement of officials and delegations along the road.

The opening of the road is part of the ceasefire agreement signed on 23 October in Geneva by the 5+5 Joint Military Commission composed of five senior officers of the army loyal to the government and five senior officers of the LNA.

But the implementation of the ceasefire stalled over a couple of issues: the opening of the coastal road and the departure of mercenaries and foreign fighters.

-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 30July2021