On Sunday, the United Nations Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily said the UN Mission (UNSMIL) “does not support any party or region at the expense of others in Libya, and does not support any leaders against others.”
Speaking at a meeting of the elders of Zintan, Bathily said, “We are here to build a unified state, and we call on the Libyan leadership to fulfil its responsibilities for that. There is a need for a unified government and chamber to build a new state. The time has come to begin reconciliation between the Libyan parties.”
The UN Envoy also pointed out that “Libya cannot be rebuilt in the presence of endless transitional governments. Anyone who wants transitional governments only wants to share the cake.”
He pointed out that the future of the country “should not depend only on the Libyan Parliament and the state, but on the ambitions and desires of the Libyans.”
Bathily also called on international and regional partners to assist the United Nations in “fulfilling its duty and working to create conditions that lead to peace in the country. He emphasised that everyone should help Libya overcome its current crisis and reunite the Libyans.”
In conclusion, he said that he looks forward to “a new Libya where its President can travel all over the country”.
Notably, MP Essam Al-Jehani has criticised UNSMIL, accusing it of hindering progress in the country’s political process.
In a recent statement, Al-Jehani claimed that UNSMIL “acts as if it is a party to the political equation in Libya. It is working to manage the crisis rather than solve it.”
He also highlighted the roadmap agreed upon by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), which includes the formation of the 6+6 Joint Committee, and the thirteenth amendment to the constitutional declaration.
Al-Jehani emphasised that the roadmap “must be completed by final agreement on election laws, and the formation of a single government capable of supervising the elections.”
Notably, UNSMIL urged the Libyan Parliament to “avoid unilateral actions in addressing the ongoing political stalemate in the country.”
In a recent statement, UNSMIL noted the approval of a roadmap and nominations for a new government by the Parliament, but emphasised the need for “an inclusive political agreement to ensure stability and peace in Libya.”
The mission warned against actions that could inflict serious negative consequences for the country, and trigger further instability and violence. “Unilateral actions could cause further polarisation amongst the population, which has already been suffering from deep divisions for over a decade,” it added.