Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya Abdoulaye Bathily presented on Monday a clear diagnosis of the problems that are still preventing presidential and parliamentary elections from being held in the North African country.
He criticized Libyan officials for “clinging to their seats”, calling on the UN Security Council to prevent them from failing the Libyan people.
Briefing the Security Council on the latest developments in Libya, Bathily noted the Libyan House of Representatives’ approval of two laws on the presidential elections. He said that for the first time since elections were thwarted in December 2021, Libya has a constitutional and legal framework for elections in place.
“We need to build on this important achievement,” he urged, revealing that he had invited the leaders of the top five institutions in the country - Presidential Council (PC), HoR, High Council of State, interim Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and east-based Libyan National Army (LNA) - to a meeting.
“These chosen actors have the capacity to either reach consensus and advance the political process or prolong the stalemate and prevent Libya from holding peaceful elections,” Bathily remarked.
Moreover, he stressed that their “rivalry and lack of trust lie at the core of this prolonged crisis and stands in contradiction with the unity ordinary Libyans long for.”
Some Libyan leaders continue to drag their feet and do not, for now, show a decisive commitment to end the long-standing stalemate that has caused so much suffering for the ordinary Libyans, he noted.
“Electoral laws alone cannot make elections happen if relevant actors are not genuinely committed to their implementation,” he stated.
Furthermore, the envoy called for the formation of a unified government to lead the country to elections, adding that this is required by the electoral laws and welcomed by Libyan citizens of all sides.
While the ceasefire continues to hold, he said sporadic armed clashes and other security incidents continue to be recorded in various regions.
Conditions
He said he has requested the leaders of the five institutions to nominate three representatives each to participate in a preparatory session to agree on the parameters of the meeting of the principals, including the date, venue and agenda.
He said that none of the institutional players outrightly rejected his invitation. However, some have set out conditions for their participation.
President of the Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi has shown clear and concrete support, the UN envoy said. “He is displaying his good will and exploring every way to make this dialogue successful. I will continue working on the PC on this effort.”
Bathily said the Speaker of HoR, Aguila Saleh, has conditioned his participation to the agenda focusing on the formation of a “new government for elections,” while also rejecting the participation of the GNU and its head Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah.
The President of the High Council of State, Muhammad Takala, has submitted the names of its three representatives to the preparatory meeting, despite his initial rejection of the version of the electoral laws published by the HoR, said the envoy.
He said that Dbeibah also submitted the names of the GNU's representatives. But, while ready to discuss outstanding issues in the electoral laws, Dbeibah categorically rejected any discussions on a “new government,” added Bathily.
LNA commander Khalifa Haftar is ready for dialogue, but has conditioned the GNU participation to the inclusion of the HoR-appointed government, he went on to say. Alternatively, he would agree to participate if both “governments” were excluded.
Bathily affirmed that except for a few political office holders whose terms of office have expired, and are “keeping the country hostage to their particular ambitions”, Libyans of all walks of life have expressed their “strong aspiration” for a unified government to lead the country to elections, legitimate and unified institutions, peace, stability and the unity of the country.
He added that community leaders, notables, political parties, women and youth groups, civil society organizations, the business community, the 5+5 JMC, other prominent military and security actors have expressed full readiness to ensure peaceful, inclusive and successful elections.
He also said that the High National Electoral Commission is also technically ready to start the preparations of the electoral process.
“The national mood is ripe for a new political deal, a new dispensation for a brighter future for the country,” Bathily declared, adding that “one group of unwilling officials clinging to their seats must not be allowed to fail the people of Libya and put the region at the risk of further chaos.”
