On Friday, the United Nations Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Libyan people on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, a time of celebration and overcoming differences.
“I wish all Libyans a blessed Eid, hoping that this holiday will be an occasion, for all actors, to respond to popular demands, hold national elections on sound consensual bases, and achieve stability and prosperity for the country,” the UNSMIL said in a tweet.
It called on all parties to the conflict to “redouble their efforts in order to spare the Libyan people further hardship and suffering and to pave the way for inclusive elections as soon as possible.”
As Libya comes together to mark Eid al-Adha, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya said, “let this holiday be a real occasion to embody fraternity, heal rifts, end division and reach compromises for the sake of Libya and the Libyans.”
Last week, UN Political Affairs Chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, told the Security Council that leaders in Libya must resolve outstanding issues so that long-awaited presidential and parliamentary elections can finally be held.
“The UN’s priority in Libya remains to facilitate a return to the electoral process, based on a sound and consensual constitutional basis for elections. This is what the Libyan people have asked for,” she declared.
DiCarlo commended recent progress following a final round of UN-facilitated consultations on the constitutional basis for the vote, which has been delayed since December.
Notably, angry demonstrations were present in Libya last weekend protesting declining living standards, electricity cut-offs, and other bread and butter problems.
The protesters blame such deterioration on the ongoing tug-of-war between the main political players who continue to obstruct the general elections.
Negotiations between rival factions, East, and West, have been ongoing in both Cairo and Geneva, with no agreement in sight over a framework that would make it possible to hold free and fair elections.