The United Nations (UN) Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, expressed grave concerns on Saturday, marking the 13th anniversary of the February 17 Revolution. He is worried that the continuation of the current situation poses a significant threat to Libya’s unity. This statement was made amidst the celebrations in Libya for the anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the regime of the late leader Moammar Gaddafi on February 17th, 2011.
In a statement on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on its website, Bathily emphasised the urgency for Libyan leaders to take responsibility and be accountable for their decisions and actions. He urged Libyans to unite in resolving political disputes and to agree on a path forward towards building a strong and unified Libya.
Bathily reiterated the commitment of the UN mission to stand with the Libyan people in their pursuit of peace, justice, and the establishment of legitimate institutions governed by inclusive rule. He highlighted the risks posed by the fragility of national institutions and deep divisions within the state to the country’s stability.
During his briefing to the Security Council on Thursday, Bathily noted the reluctance of key institutional parties to resolve political disputes. This hampers the path to the long-awaited elections in the country. He pointed out that none had taken a decisive step away from their initial positions, continuing to set preconditions for their participation in dialogue.
On November 23rd, Bathily called on the main institutional parties to participate in a meeting, which has yet to be held, to reach a settlement on the political disagreements related to the electoral process implementation.
Libyans are hopeful for parliamentary and presidential elections to end the conflicts and divisions that have resulted in two governments since early 2022. One government, led by Osama Hamad, was appointed by the House of Representatives in the East, while the other, the Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Abdelhamid Dbaiba, is based in the capital, Tripoli, in the West.
