On the occasion of International Youth Day, the British Embassy in Libya expressed its interest in empowering Libyan youth as the leaders of the future.
The Embassy articulated through their official Twitter page, “the UK is passionate about enhancing opportunities for the youth, and we’re eager to see Libya’s youth not just as tomorrow’s leaders but also as catalysts for change today.”
The Libyan Presidential Council, in a subsequent statement, reiterated its commitment to the reconciliation project and to empowering the youth. The Council emphasised its unwavering support for a Libya where reconciliation and sustainable development walk hand in hand.
Furthermore, the Presidential Council underscored the indispensable role that the youth play in ensuring everlasting peace and prosperity in Libya. They highlighted that the youth embody the nation’s hope and potential. Their active participation in reconciliation efforts holds paramount importance, enabling them to lead transformative roles that shape society towards a more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable path.
Lastly, the Council noted its commitment to providing equal opportunities and access to quality education and vocational training for the youth. They firmly believe in the necessity to foster an environment that enhances their growth, unleashes their potential, and instills a sense of responsibility towards their communities and environment.
Notably, the Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives (HoR), Ageela Saleh, voiced concerns regarding the United Nations’ (UN) influence in Libyan internal affairs.
In an exclusive interview with Russia Today on Friday, Saleh emphasised that the UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, does not possess the authority to form dialogue committees. Instead, he stressed that the UN’s primary role in Libya should be limited to “support only.”
The UN mission previously raised objections to the HoR’s decision to map out the implementation of electoral laws before their final adoption. The mission highlighted Bathily’s ongoing efforts to prepare for this “inclusive negotiation process”, pointing towards the formation of a high-level committee comprising all Libyan factions.
In the midst of these developments, Saleh raised alarms about the UN mission’s alleged “interference in Libyan domestic affairs.” Reinforcing the support-only role of the UN, he said, “the UN Envoy is aware of this stance, and we have notified him accordingly.”
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Moammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December 2021, and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbaiba, who is leading the transitional government, to step down. In response, the country’s eastern-based Parliament appointed a rival Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.
