The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) welcomed the gradual progress of the new constitutional amendments in Libya. It affirmed its support for holding elections in the country, according to a statement seen by Italy’s news agency, Nova.
The Security Council praised Egypt’s role in facilitating talks in Cairo between the Libyan Parliament, and the High Council of State (HCS).
“Individuals or entities that threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya, or hinder or undermine the successful completion of its political transition, can be designated under sanctions by the Security Council,” the UNSC warned.
The Security Council emphasized the need for “a new impetus” to ensure a legal basis and political agreement, essential for the holding of free, fair, transparent, inclusive, and secure Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2023.
The statement affirmed the Council’s strong support for the UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, as a “mediator to promote a political process in line with the pertinent Security Council resolutions.”
The statement encouraged the initiative of the Senegalese politician to launch a high-level Libyan electoral group, facilitated by the United Nations “which aims to integrate the progress made by other processes and bring together the interested parties.”
The goal is “to ensure that any result is acceptable and supported by all the main Libyan actors.”
The UNSC also underlined the importance of a “participatory and representative process that includes representatives of political institutions and political personalities, tribal leaders, civil society organizations, security actors, young people and women.”
Notably, Bathily has announced an initiative aimed at enabling legislative and Presidential elections this year, and will set up a high-level steering panel, he told the United Nations Security Council earlier this month.
During his briefing, Bathily said the mechanism “would bring together representatives of political institutions, major political figures, tribal leaders, civil society organizations, security officials, and other relevant groups.”