Chairman of the European Union Military Committee General Claudio Graziano called the unstable situation in Libya and surrounding regions in Africa a cause for concern for the EU.

The British Guardian reported that in 2020, as a result of the conflict, a depleted economy and the rapid spread of Covid-19, more Libyan natives are boarding unsteady boats to leave their home country for European shores than ever before.

The US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, has confirmed that his country will continue to cooperate with the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya and its work in supporting Libyan law enforcement, criminal justice, and border management.

Foreign Minister Muhammad Siyala has called on Arab countries to support the 5 + 5 Joint Military Committee in its efforts to expel mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya.

The European Union on Sunday welcomed the formation of the transitional Libyan government ahead of the December elections and threatened sanctions against those who may try to challenge it.

Libya’s Tobruk administration welcomed Friday’s announcement of a new interim government to unite the country, but added it would only cede power if the eastern-based parliament approved.

Nearly 1,000 people fleeing to Europe by boat from Libya were stopped and sent back to shore this week. People seeking to cross the Mediterranean continue to risk death if they are not stopped by Libyan authorities.

On 1 January, Frontex, the European Union’s border force, tweeted a video celebrating their work in 2020 – a photo montage of masked border guards in bullet proof vests, with a caption boasting “the lowest number of illegal border crossings since 2013”.

The commander of the European Operation IRINI, Admiral Fabio Agostini, confirmed IRINI’s readiness to play a role in monitoring the current ceasefire agreement in Libya.

After an inspection by Greece and the European Union of a Russian cargo ship off the Libyan coast, Russia criticized the nature of the actions of operation IRNI and the reasons behind the inspection.