On Thursday, embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy expressed strong support for the initiative led by Abdoulaye Bathily, the UN Envoy to Libya.
In a joint statement, the embassies said that the initiative “aims to invite key institutional parties in Libya, to engage in crucial discussions aimed at resolving the political impasses that have been hindering the election process.”
Bathily extended invitations to key Libyan institutional stakeholders for a forthcoming meeting. The meeting aims to resolve politically contested issues, hindering the implementation of the electoral process.
The preparatory meeting will focus on determining the date, venue, and agenda of the meeting.
This will be attended by designated representatives from the Presidential Council, Libyan Parliament, High Council of State (HCS), Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Libyan National Army (LNA).
Furthermore, discussions will address outstanding issues critical for the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to initiate the implementation of electoral laws issued by the Parliament.
Bathily called on major actors to “move forward in good faith, striving collectively to deliver free, transparent, and inclusive elections for the Libyan people.”
UNSMIL said the initiative “aligns with the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2702 (2023), acknowledging the electoral laws adopted by the Parliament and reaffirming the Council’s support for Bathily’s mediation efforts.”
The resolution urges stakeholders to “intensify efforts to resolve outstanding political issues through UN-facilitated dialogue, and underscores the international community’s obligation to fully support Bathily and UNSMIL in their mandate implementation.”
The statement noted that Bathily will “conduct focused consultations with a diverse array of Libyan stakeholders, including political parties, military and security entities, elders and notables, cultural and linguistic components, academics, youth, women, and civil society.”
Their proposals for resolving outstanding issues and facilitating successful elections will be incorporated into negotiations by institutional stakeholders.
The Envoy called on all stakeholders to “demonstrate full commitment to achieving national unity, peace, and security in Libya by engaging positively with these efforts to break the ongoing political deadlock.”
Libya has been grappling with political instability and fragmented governance since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country has seen rival governments and numerous militias vying for power, complicating the path to a unified and stable political system. The proposed elections are seen as a critical step towards consolidating a democratic government, and restoring peace and stability in the nation.