The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) vowed that it will provide technical and logistical support to the 6+6 Joint Committee to establish electoral laws.
The committee was formed by the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS) to establish electoral laws under the 13th Constitutional Amendment.
The UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily urged the leaders of the two chambers to expedite the work of the committee, and publish a timebound work programme.
“For elections to take place this year, the electoral laws must be completed in time for the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to begin implementing the electoral process by early July,” Bathily said in his brief to the UN Security Council last week.
Bathily noted that the Chairman of HNEC, Emad Al-Sayeh informed him that, “while awaiting the electoral laws and the provision of necessary funds, the Commission has started initial preparations for the electoral process.”
He called on the Libyan government to provide HNEC with “all necessary resources to complete its mandated tasks in a timely manner.”
“Leaders and representatives of military units and security formations operating in western, eastern, and southern Libya committed to supporting all stages of elections, reject violence throughout Libya, take practical steps for the safe return of internally displaced persons, release detainees, and address the missing persons issue in the context of national reconciliation,” Bathily told the Security Council.
“As a result of these consultations, on 8 April 2023, Libyan National Army (LNA) authorities release six detainees from western Libya as a confidence-building measure.”
Meanwhile, Bathily continued to push for the removal of foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya. He travelled to Sudan, Chad, and Niger to secure support from authorities. Under UN auspices, liaison committees from Libya, Sudan, Chad, and Niger also met to discuss strengthening cooperation and establishing an information-sharing mechanism.
In his remarks to the Security Council, Bathily called on the international community to “remain mobilized and vigilant” to support the elections. He committed to continue to use his good offices to facilitate progress.
Libyan leaders must deliver on their commitments and “meet the people’s expectation to choose leaders this year,” he said.
