On Thursday, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily said that “since the postponement of Libya’s elections a year ago, little to no progress was achieved on the remaining outstanding issues,” adding that the “status quo is no longer acceptable.”
Bathily, alongside France, co-chaired a plenary session of the Security Working Group (SWG) meeting in Tunis. They focused on the upcoming steps in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the reunification of Libya’s military institutions, and elections security.
The UN envoy said that elections “are of extreme importance to so many Libyans, who are tired of the delaying tactics employed by some of their leaders.”
Bathily added that nearly three million voters have registered for elections, demanding their right to choose their leaders.
Speaking on the withdrawal of foreign forces, fighters, and mercenaries, he said the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) has achieved a level of “relative preparedness” with the Libyan Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism “but political will and decisive actions are needed to launch the process.”
He said the JMC agreed to create the conditions necessary for the establishment of the ceasefire mechanism in Sirte “to enhance trust between the two sides, and move forward with the training of local monitors.”
Officials from Libya’s Ministry of Interior made a presentation on their readiness to implement an election security plan, which suggested a high level of coordination with the High National Elections Commission (HNEC).
Chief of Staff for the Libyan Army, General Mohamed Al Haddad and members of the JMC participated in the meeting. As well as representatives of the United Kingdom, Turkey, Italy, the African Union, and seven additional Berlin Conference participants.
The discussion focused on the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including ceasefire monitoring; disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration; the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters, and foreign forces; and the establishment of a joint military force.
