Presidency Council member, Abdalla Al-Lafi, in his capacity as the Supreme Commander of the Libyan Army, participated yesterday in the Forum of the Defence and National Security Committee in the House of Representatives (HoR) with military leaders of the army.

The Head of the Libyan High Council of State (HCS), Khalid Al-Mishri, rejected Tuesday unifying state civil institutions without unifying the military institution, adding in a press conference in Tripoli that the HCS rejected also the inability of the Prime Minister to enter Benghazi and the “mess at the military …

The Libyan Prime Minister and Defense Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah said there are lots of challenges that are hindering the unification of the Libyan Army, expressing hope in the willingness of young people to serve their country.

The challenge of uniting and integrating this unwieldy alliance through a combination of narrative-building, coercion and external support has proven extremely difficult. This is mainly due to the contradictory political goals of the various factions that make up the LAAF.

The international Libya Quartet on Tuesday urged authorities in the country to step up their efforts to improve the security situation and build confidence, to help bring peace to the country and fully implement the ceasefire agreement.

Egypt has renewed its support for the Libyan National Army. LNA commander Khalifa Hifter went to Cairo March 16 and met with Egyptian officials to update Cairo on the latest developments in the talks of the Libyan Joint Military Commission to unify the Libyan military establishment and remove mercenaries.

The Tripoli-based Interior Ministry’s ‘‘Combatants Inclusion’’ (militia DDR) Committee announced yesterday that its first training course for the government recognized militias is ready to start.

The Covid-19 pandemic is not only a health challenge. In the MENA region, against the backdrop of protracted conflicts, instability, and an overall deterioration in socio-economic conditions, the coronavirus crisis adds another layer of vulnerability and has already had long-lasting repercussions on human security across the region.

Yesterday’s militia clashes in Tripoli’s Tajura suburb underscores the urgent need for much-needed reform of the country’s militias, UNSMIL said.

The Minister of Defense of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Salah Al-Namroush, said that the Ministry has begun to implement programs to build and restructure the Libyan Armed Forces, develop the army, air and naval defense sectors, along with the anti-terrorist forces and the special forces.