Libyan Member of Parliament (MP), Jibril Ouhaida, highlighted the United Nations’ (UN) role in guiding Libya towards political stability.
His insights shed light on the UN Envoy to Libya’s initiative to bring Libyan factions together to form a new unified government, a move seen as essential for managing the upcoming electoral process in Libya.
The Libyan Prime Minister underscored the emerging global consensus, particularly among influential western nations and the United States. He advocated for establishing a national unity government in Libya. This unified stance underscores the geostrategic significance of Libya in regional stability and its global implications, particularly in the Mediterranean.
Ouhaida elaborated on the recent geopolitical shifts impacting the region, emphasising their considerable security, economic, and financial implications. In this context, the formation of a unified Libyan government is viewed as a key stabilising factor, potentially mitigating broader regional turbulence.
According to the Libyan lawmaker, the upcoming dialogues, steered by the UN, will concentrate on forming a unified government rather than revisiting electoral laws. This approach aims to maintain the momentum gained in Libya’s political reconciliation process, avoiding setbacks that could arise from reopening discussions on electoral legislation.
He highlighted that the dialogues are intended to reassure all Libyan parties of the new government’s inclusiveness and representation of all Libyans. This strategy is designed to ensure continued progress and avoid reverting to the initial phases of the political process.
Furthermore, Ouhaida noted a discernible trend toward establishing a new government to end Libya’s political divide. He pointed out that the involvement of external actors in Libya’s political affairs has drawn attention and concern from the United States, reflecting the delicate balance of international interests in Libya.
Notably, Bathily initiated steps to resolve disputes among Libyan parties and pave the way for elections, extending invitations to key institutional stakeholders for a preparatory meeting.
Bathily has recently conducted intensive consultations with a wide range of Libyan stakeholders.
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.”
The UN mission in Libya 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.”