On Sunday, US Special Envoy Ambassador Richard Norland and Chargé d’Affaires Jeremy Berndt met with Stephanie Khoury, Deputy Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, to discuss the ongoing efforts to facilitate national elections in Libya.
According to a post on the US Embassy in Libya’s X account (formerly known as Twitter), Norland and Berndt emphasized US support for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The discussion focused on efforts to advance a Libyan-led political process aimed at establishing a unified government and creating a reliable pathway to national elections.
Libya has been mired in political instability since the 2011 revolution that led to the ousting and subsequent death of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi. The power vacuum left in the wake of Gaddafi’s fall led to years of conflict, culminating in a civil war that divided the country into rival administrations in the East and West of the country.
Despite various international efforts to broker peace, including the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement signed in Skhirat, Morocco, and more recent negotiations in Berlin, achieving lasting stability has proven elusive. The country has struggled with fragmented governance, sporadic violence, and the presence of numerous militias, each with its own regional and international backers.
In recent years, there has been a renewed push for national reconciliation and elections. The Berlin Conference, launched in 2020, brought together key international stakeholders and Libyan parties to commit to a ceasefire and a roadmap towards elections. However, the implementation has faced numerous delays and challenges.
The United Nations, through UNSMIL, has been instrumental in facilitating dialogue among Libyan factions.
The path to national elections in Libya is fraught with challenges, but the involvement of key international players like the United States and the United Nations offers a beacon of hope.
The international community remains cautiously optimistic that with sustained diplomatic pressure and support, Libya can overcome its divisions and embark on a new era of peace and prosperity. The meeting between US and UN officials is a step in the right direction, signaling a continued international commitment to Libya’s future.
