The Libyan government-designate affirmed that the solution to the Libyan crisis must be “purely Libyan.” It stressed that the solution should respect Libya’s sovereignty, independence and unity through transparent and comprehensive mechanisms.
This came in a statement welcoming the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution on Libya.
On Friday, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for a year. It urged key institutions and parties to agree on a roadmap to deliver presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.
The resolution adopted by the UN’s most powerful body urged “dialogue, compromise and constructive engagement” aimed at forming “a unified Libyan government able to govern across the country and representing the whole people of Libya.”
The resolution reaffirmed the UN Security Council’s “strong commitment to an inclusive Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, facilitated by the UN and supported by the international community,” that leads to elections as soon as possible. It backs the resumption of efforts to resume intra-Libya talks to create conditions for presidential and parliamentary elections.
The UN Security Council also acknowledged the “significant role” of regional organisations including the Arab League and the European Union (EU). It called on all relevant Libyan institutions to carry out confidence-building measures to successfully hold the elections.
Libya’s current political crisis stems from the failure to hold elections in December 2021 and the refusal of Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, who led a transitional Government of National Unity (GNU) in the capital, Tripoli, in the country’s West, to step down.
In response, the country’s East-based Parliament appointed a rival Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.
Abdoulaye Bathily told the UN Security Council that he plans to follow up on commitments by Libya’s political rivals at the end of a meeting last week. It reportedly includes the need to hold elections and ensure that the country has a single executive power as soon as possible.
He said he plans to talk to leaders of the east-based parliament, the House of Representatives, and West-based High Council of State (HCS) in the coming weeks “to understand” the agreements announced at the end of their October 21st meeting in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.