United Nations, United States, Feb 6, 2020 – Russia on Wednesday blocked a UN draft resolution on Libya due to inclusion of the word “mercenary” in the text, diplomats said, casting doubt that a Security Council vote will occur by week’s end. “There are a few sections in the resolution that are of concern,” Russian ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told reporters following a Security Council meeting. Russia had already halted the approval process that would have allowed fora vote on the text on Thursday or Friday. While the British resolution states “concern over the growing involvement of mercenaries in Libya,” Moscow wants the word changed to “foreign terrorist fighters.” Moscow is accused of sending several thousand mercenaries from the private Russian security company Wagner to support military strongman Khalifa Haftar,who controls much of the south and east of Libya. The Security Council has been unable to reach a resolution over the past 10 months during an ongoing assault by Haftar to seize Tripoli, the GNA’s base.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 06, 2020 12:56 UTC