President of the Libyan Presidency Council (PC), Mohamed al-Menfi, discussed on Tuesday with the Commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), Stephen Townsend, efforts to combat terrorism and organized crime, especially in the regions of southern Libya, according to PC Media Office.
During their meeting in Tripoli, in the presence of the US Envoy and Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, they also discussed aspects of joint security and military cooperation between Libya and the United States, expulsion of mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya, and the steps taken in this direction, PC Media Office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Townsend arrived today in Tripoli, where he met with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and U.S. Special Envoy to Libya, Richard Norland.
The three discussed “developments in Libya’s security sector and how elections planned for Dec. 24 will be an important step towards Libya’s long-term stability under an elected national government and regional stability without foreign interference,” according to U.S. Embassy in Libya.
Townsend and Norland also joined on Tuesday the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Committee’s (JMC) meeting held in Tripoli for the first time.
“Today’s joint in-person meeting of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission in Tripoli joined by General Townsend and Ambassador Norland is a historic step in bringing Libyans together, particularly in the security sphere,” the Embassy said in a statement today.
“The United States remains committed to facilitating full implementation of the October ceasefire agreement, the full withdrawal of all foreign forces and fighters, as well as the full unification of Libyan military institutions,” it added.