On Thursday, the UN Envoy to Libya and the Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily held a meeting with the Libyan Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs, Walid Al-Lafi.
In a statement, the Libyan Hakomitna platform indicated that the meeting “discussed ways to support cooperation between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and the UN mission. As well as ways to implement a number of programmes that contribute to the success of the anticipated elections.”
During the talks, the attendees agreed to form joint organizational teams to “coordinate efforts and exchange views between the two parties over the required preparations for the elections.”
Bathily was briefed on the cooperation and coordination between the government and the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), praising the government’s momentum for the electoral process.
He called on all “political actors, military and security leaders, notables, societal representatives, institutions, and authorities to come together in a spirit of compromise for the sake of establishing a clear and unified pathway towards lasting peace, stability, and prosperity.”
“This is also an opportunity to encourage all stakeholders to rally behind the UN’s comprehensive approach to enable national elections this year. The people of Libya are eager to turn the page of suffering and division and open a new chapter of peace, stability, and prosperity in their country. Let’s not fail them,” he added.
In turn, Al-Lafi highlighted the government’s efforts to establish the General Authority for Monitoring Media Content (GAMMC), which aims to create a safe environment for elections.
Notably, Libya’s eastern-based Parliament voted on Tuesday to suspend its designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha. It appointed his Finance Minister, Osama Hamada to his role.
In February 2022, the Libyan Parliament elected the former Interior Minister to replace Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba. This was part of a United Nations-backed peace process to end more than a decade of violence in the North African country.
Dbaiba failed in his key task of organizing elections in December, at which point the Parliament ruled that his mandate had run out. The Tripoli-based Prime Minister refused to hand over power before elections, preparing a showdown with Bashagha.
Dbaiba has previously confirmed that he will “remain in office until all Libyan parties agree on electoral laws that are internationally welcomed, and start announcing specific dates for the elections.”