On Sunday the Acting Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Williams held a virtual meeting with 1,000 Libyans from across the country.
UNSMIL said in a statement that 76% of the participants were in favour of conducting national elections on 24 December 2021, and the majority called for an end to the years-long transitional period.
According to 69% of those who joined the digital conversation, a “unified interim executive authority in the run-up to elections is needed.”
The statement noted that all participants expressed their support for the ceasefire agreement signed on 23 October 2020, and called for mercenaries and foreign fighters to be expelled.
The participants also called for a stronger UN role in ending foreign interference in the country, and for the continuation of the UN-facilitated dialogue. As many feared that “war will erupt again,” without the UN’s support.
“The increase in prices of basic goods was a main concern of the participants, 46% of whom said that the economic situation had continued to deteriorate compared to the previous year.”
The mission pointed out that the participants praised the unification of the exchange rate, but called for more efforts to improve the country’s economic situation.