In a televised speech on Monday, the General Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar addressed Libya to announce that the LNA would take over the management of Libya’s affairs.

Haftar expressed his appreciation to the Libyan people for their support of the country’s armed forces in their battle against terrorism in Libya.

Haftar noted that the LNA’s victories to date would not have been possible without the support of the Libyan people and the many sacrifices made by officers and soldiers for the country’s safety and sovereignty.

The LNA commander then announced that the UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) that was signed in Skirhat, Morocco in 2015 had become redundant and was no longer valid.

The Libyan Political Agreement signed in Skirhat, Morocco, in 2015 was an UN-brokered international agreement that ratified the GNA as Libya’s executive branch and left legislative authority to the House of Representatives (HoR) as per elections that took place in June 2014. The LPA also established the High Council of State.

Haftar added that the LNA would accept the Libyan people’s mandate to rule the country.

He said that the armed forces would be at the disposal of the Libyan people and would do their best to relieve the people’s suffering by defending their rights and creating the conditions for re-building state institutions and civil society.

In his closing remarks, Haftar vowed that the Libyan National Army would continue its battle to liberate Libya until the end.