The agreement stipulated the departure of all foreign fighters and trainers from the country for a minimum of three months, the re-opening of land and air routes that had been practically shut for many months, and the exchange of prisoners between the parties. On October 23, representatives of the GNA and LAAF-the two main Libyan conflict parties-signed in Geneva a permanent and country-wide ceasefire brokered by the United Nations. Migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in Libya-including thousands intercepted at sea while trying to reach Europe and returned by the European Union-supported Libyan Coast Guard-faced arbitrary detention, during which many experienced ill-treatment, sexual assault, forced labor, and extortion by groups under the GNA Interior Ministry, members of armed groups, smugglers, and traffickers. LAAF-affiliated armed groups and forces linked with the Interim Government quelled some of the protests using live fire. In September, people in the eastern cities of Benghazi, Tobruk, and Al-Marj took to the streets to protest deteriorating living conditions. In August, GNA affiliated armed groups in Tripoli used heavy weapons to disperse street protests against corruption and poor living conditions. Armed groups on all sides continued to kill unlawfully and shell indiscriminately, killing civilians and destroying vital infrastructure. The conflict hampered the provision of basic services including health and electricity. On October 23, conflict parties signed a country-wide ceasefire agreement in Geneva. Since April 2019, the United Nations-recognized and Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), supported by armed groups in western Libya nominally under its control, has been embroiled in an armed conflict with the rival Interim Government based in eastern Libya, which is affiliated with the armed group Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) under the command of General Khalifa Hiftar.
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