The US Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, Michele J. Sison said that “the Libyan people demanded free and fair elections, and they deserve to be held to choose their leaders in 2023.”
Sison praised the UN Security Council Presidential statement, and its support for the initiative of the UN Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily. This would secure “fair elections, that the Libyan people deserve.”
Sison called on Libya’s leaders to “find a way forward to ensure a democratic future for all Libyans.”
Notably, the Security Council 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.
It 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.”
