On Thursday, the Head of Libya’s High National Elections Commission (HNEC) Emad Al-Sayeh met with the German Special Envoy to Libya, Christian Buck and the German Ambassador to Libya, Michael Ohnmacht
During the meeting, Buck stressed the importance of completing the constitutional basis, and holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections as soon as possible. He also expressed his appreciation for HNEC’s efforts to organise the elections. He also praised the “national efforts that seek to reach a constitutional basis for the long-awaited elections, in order to achieve stability and end the transitional stages.”
The talks “focused on the priority of Libya’s sovereignty, and support for dialogue between the Libyan parties.”
Ambassador Ohnmacht reiterated Germany’s support for Libyan efforts to reach a solution, without external intervention.
He stressed the importance of the role entrusted to HNEC, underscoring the need to support it fully.
In August, the acting Head of UNSMIL, Raisedon Zenenga stressed that there is no military solution to the electoral and executive impasse. “The Libyan people have made clear their aspiration to choose their leaders and renew the legitimacy of Libyan institutions through democratic elections.”
He added that the United Nations’ priority, therefore, is to “work with all Libyan parties to facilitate an agreement on a pathway to national elections as soon as possible.”
Zenenga called on all parties to “resolve disputes through dialogue. Libyan leaders must agree on a pathway to elections without delay,” the UN Mission concluded.
Libya is again politically torn between two rival governments, in the east and west. The Libyan Parliament-designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, and incumbent PM Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, who refuses to relinquish power until elections.
Tensions have been rising for months in Libya as the two leaders vie for power; raising fears of renewed conflict two years after a landmark truce.
The UN has been pushing the rival parties to hold elections, in order to resolve the legitimacy crisis.