A member of the Libyan Parliament, Essam Al-Jehani has criticised the UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), accusing it of hindering progress in the country’s political process.
In a recent statement, Al-Jehani claimed that UNSMIL “acts as if it is a party to the political equation in Libya. It is working to manage the crisis rather than solve it.”
He also highlighted the roadmap agreed upon by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), which includes the formation of 6+6 Joint Committee, and the thirteenth amendment to the constitutional declaration.
Al-Jehani emphasised that the roadmap “must be completed by final agreement on election laws, and the formation of a single government capable of supervising the elections.”
Notably, UNSMIL urged the Libyan Parliament to “avoid unilateral actions in addressing the ongoing political stalemate in the country.”
In a recent statement, UNSMIL noted the approval of a roadmap and nominations for a new government by the Parliament, but emphasised the need for “an inclusive political agreement to ensure stability and peace in Libya.”
Guided by Security Council resolution 2656 (2022), UNSMIL’s Head, Abdoulaye Bathily has been engaging with all Libyan institutions and key stakeholders, to agree on a roadmap for elections. The aim is to “deliver elections across the country as soon as possible, on a constitutional and legal basis, through dialogue, compromise, and constructive engagement, in a transparent and inclusive manner.”
The mission warned against actions that could inflict serious negative consequences for the country, and trigger further instability and violence. “Unilateral actions could cause further polarisation amongst the population, which has already been suffering from deep divisions for over a decade,” it added.