On Sunday, the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Mnifi, met with the UN Envoy and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily to discuss the latest developments in Libya.
Bathily stressed that the mission is “continuing its efforts to communicate with all Libyan parties to facilitate their agreement on holding Parliamentary and Presidential elections.” This election will be based on the outcomes of the talks of the 6+6 Joint Committee, which is preparing the election laws. As well as the results of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) meeting held in Benghazi last week, which included representatives from the Security Track Committee of the Berlin Conference.
Al-Mnifi affirmed that the Presidential Council will “continue to play its role in achieving the will and aspirations of the Libyan people, a commitment that will be expressed through all international and regional platforms.”
Notably, Bathily emphasised the need for elections and stability in his discussions with Libyan leaders.
Speaking at a forum in southern Libya, Bathily claimed that “individuals pushing for additional transitional arrangements and interim governments are primarily seeking a division of power.” He urged security and military forces to ensure the safe conduct of elections.
“The time is now for Libya to find its feet, and become an economic powerhouse in the region,” he stated. He reinforced that the UN’s role in Libya is “not to play favourites, but rather to provide solutions for the nation.”
“Libya cannot fully rise if the Speaker of the House is unable to freely travel to Tripoli or Misrata. An endless succession of transitional arrangements and governments would not contribute to the rebuilding of Libya,” he stressed, insisting on the need for a unified government and Parliament.
“The new Libya can only be constructed through an electoral process that elects the Parliament and the Head of State in a transparent, and all-encompassing manner,” he contended. The UN diplomat concluded by saying it was “time to finalise the electoral laws, enabling citizens to choose their desired representatives.”
Libya has been in a state of turmoil and instability since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, following a popular uprising turned civil war. Since then, the country has witnessed multiple phases of conflict, political fragmentation, and economic hardship.
