UNICEF/Mostafa Alatrib. In Derna, eastern Libya, people gather outside an apartment building damaged by flooding.
Abdoulaye Bathily, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, told the Security Council today that Libya has recently made progress on legislation, but the political landscape in Libya remains fraught with power struggles due to the country's key figures always attaching conditions to attending important talks.
Batili told delegates that the time was ripe for Libya to reach a new political agreement and make new arrangements for a brighter future. Officials who cling to power but are unwilling to make changes must not be allowed to fail the Libyan people and plunge Libya into even greater chaos.
Protracted stalemate
Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, the oil-rich North African nation has struggled with multiple crises and rival governments. Libya has been in a protracted stalemate due to the confrontation between the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, the capital of Libya in the west, and the Government of National Stability, which is allied with the National Congress and the Libyan National Army in the east.
In December 2021, Libya was forced to postpone and later cancel key presidential and parliamentary elections due to legal disputes and other challenges, much to the disappointment of both the domestic population and the international community.
This impasse continues to deepen the political, security and economic instability in the country, including the massive destruction and heavy casualties caused by Storm Daniel in Derna and the surrounding area in September this year.
"I urge political leaders in the east and west to recall the solidarity shown by the Libyan people at the beginning of the Derna crisis and to build a coordinated platform for national reconstruction in the best interests of people whose lives and livelihoods have been severely affected by this disaster," Batili said. ”
New constitutional framework
Batili also noted that for the first time since the suspension of the elections in December 2021, Libya has established a constitutional and legal framework for the elections. Moreover, the Libyan National High Electoral Commission considers the framework to be technically implementable.
He stated that this was an important achievement and that there was a need to build on it, noting that he had invited the leaders of the five institutions — the Presidential Council, the National Assembly, the Supreme Council of the State, the Government of National Unity and the Libyan National Army — to participate in the meeting.
The various actors set out the conditions for participation
"I'm happy to tell you that none of the agencies have directly rejected my invitation, but some have made conditions for participation," Battilly said. ”
Despite the clear and concrete support shown by the Presidential Council and the submission of the list of delegates by the Supreme Council of the State at the preparatory meeting, the President of the National Assembly refused to allow the Government of National Unity to participate in the elections and called for the formation of a new Government to participate in the elections.
The Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity also submitted a list of participants to attend the meeting, but categorically rejected any discussion of a "new government".
General Haftar, the commander of the National Army, was ready to attend the meeting, but he put forward the condition that the "new government" appointed by the National Assembly be allowed to attend, in other words, if both current "governments" are excluded, Haftar will accept the invitation.
Human rights and security
Batili also informed Council members that while the ceasefire in Libya continues, sporadic armed clashes and other security incidents continue in various regions.
In addition, he expressed concern about the continued restrictions on civic space and arbitrary detention.
Batilly noted that over the past nine months, security agents have arbitrarily detained at least 60 people, including children, on the grounds of actual or alleged political affiliation among civilians, and that the actual number of detentions is likely to be much higher. Not only does this violate the basic rights of civilians, but it also weakens the rule of law in Libya and further reduces public trust in the country's justice system and political process.
Finally, Batili stressed that a vibrant civic space is essential to the political process and needs to involve Libyans through dialogue, the expression of dissent and mutual understanding.