Germany’s Ambassador to Libya, Michael Ohnmacht, expressed his country’s support for the initiative of the United Nations (UN) Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, to enable elections in Libya by the end of 2023.
In a tweet, the German Ambassador confirmed that his country supports the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to hold Libyan elections.
During his briefing to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the UN Envoy to Libya announced a mechanism to bring together the various Libyan parties concerned. This includes representatives of political institutions, prominent political figures, tribal leaders, civil society organisations, security actors, and representatives of women and youth, to facilitate the adoption of a legal framework and a binding timetable for holding elections in 2023.
The UNSC welcomed the gradual progress of the new constitutional amendments in Libya. It affirmed its support for holding elections in the country, according to a statement seen by Italy’s news agency, Nova.
The UNSC praised Egypt’s role in facilitating talks in Cairo between the Libyan Parliament, and the High Council of State (HCS).
“Individuals or entities that threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya, or hinder or undermine the successful completion of its political transition, can be designated under sanctions by the Security Council,” the UNSC warned.
The UNSC emphasized the need for “a new impetus” to ensure a legal basis and political agreement, essential for the holding of free, fair, transparent, inclusive, and secure Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2023.
The statement affirmed the UNSC’s strong support for the UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, as a “mediator to promote a political process in line with the pertinent Security Council resolutions.”
The statement encouraged the initiative of the Senegalese politician to launch a high-level Libyan electoral group, facilitated by the UN “which aims to integrate the progress made by other processes and bring together the interested parties.”
The goal is “to ensure that any result is acceptable and supported by all the main Libyan actors.”
The UNSC also underlined the importance of a “participatory and representative process that includes representatives of political institutions and political personalities, tribal leaders, civil society organizations, security actors, young people and women.”
