Travel Ban for Libyans Aged 18 - 45 in Eastern Libya, Ceasefire in Abu Salim

Following widespread condemnation of the travel ban on women under 60 travelling without a male guardian, issued by the chief of staff and military governor for eastern Libya Abdelrazak al-Nadhouri last week, the ban was frozen though not removed. However,  Nadhouri then issued a ban on all Libyans aged 18 - 45 travelling outside Libya without permission. He said this was to prevent people joining terrorist groups abroad and is only a temporary measure. He said most people would get security clearance to travel and that it would only take a day or two to apply.It is unclear how this will be implemented in practice and it will only affect the eastern region. However, the implementation of such restrictive security measures indicates both the lack of civilian oversight over Haftar and Nadhouri's military governate in the east, and their security focused outlook. This move may be a precursor to a crack down on Haftar's opponents within the LNA as internal divisions become more evident. The move is also likely to alienate many LNA supporters and increase tensions with rivals in western Libya, making negotiations and compromise with Haftar more difficult to achieve.In Tripoli, heavy clashes broke out on 23 February in Abu Salim between a local Tripoli militia and a Misratan militia. On 25 February, the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) said it had successfully brokered a ceasefire between two groups, with help from town elders from Tarhuna and Gharian south of Tripoli. News 24 reported that:

An agreement has been reached to set up three committees to follow up on the accord, the GNA said in a statement released overnight. One committee will be tasked with enforcing the ceasefire, another consisting of health ministry officials will follow up the condition of those wounded and the third will assess damage, the statement said.