© UNICEF/Abdulsalam Alturki。 In September 2023, Derna in eastern Libya was hit by deadly storms and unprecedented flooding.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya said today that Libya will not be able to make progress towards credible elections without agreement among the main political actors.
Special Representative Batili told the Security Council members that Libya's main political actors must put aside their own interests and negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement on a unified government, while ensuring that national elections are held to avoid "falling into division".
"I call on them to negotiate and reach a compromise with a sense of moral responsibility in order to restore the dignity of their homeland," he said.
"The reluctance to do so calls into question not only their commitment to elections, but also their commitment to the unity and future of the country, for which they have a responsibility to do so. ”
A long-term stalemate
Libya has been mired in a deep crisis since the postponement of the national elections originally planned for December 2021.
The situation is further complicated by the reality of the coexistence of two hostile governments: one is the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, based in the north-west of Tripoli, and the Government of National Stabilization, located in the east.
In November 2023, in an effort to break the deadlock, Special Representative Batili invited the leaders of the five existing main institutions to talks, including the Government of National Unity, the National Assembly, the Supreme Council of State, the Libyan National Army and the Presidential Council.
"I continue to engage with these key actors and call on them to show wisdom," he said. But he added that none of the parties had changed their initial position.
"Each side continues to articulate the prerequisites for engaging in dialogue as a way to maintain the status quo. I must say that the status quo seems to suit them. ”
Prerequisites for talks
Batilli said the speaker of the National Assembly, Agila Saleh, insisted that the main issue remains the formation of a unified government and that his participation will depend on whether both governments are involved or excluded altogether.
The head of the Supreme Council of State, Mohamed Takala, insisted on rejecting the electoral law promulgated by the National Assembly and called for the discussion to focus on the restoration of the "initial" version of the electoral law text.
The Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, insisted that he would step down only after elections were held, meaning that the Government of National Unity would oversee the upcoming electoral process.
Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, insisted that both the Government of National Unity and the Government of National Stability be involved in the negotiations, or that both be excluded.
Special Representative Batili told the ambassadors that the President of the Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, "does not want to be seen as a participant, but is ready to act as a facilitator in support of my initiative."
The "key role" of the Security Council
Batili reiterated that the United Nations is ready to consider proposals that contribute to peaceful and inclusive solutions.
He stressed that the Security Council and the international community have a "key role" to play in pressuring Libya's leaders to engage constructively.
"Coordination and support from regional partners is particularly important," he said.
"Parallel initiatives are only useful if they support the efforts of the United Nations, so as not to be used by Libyan actors as a means of maintaining the status quo. ”
Security, humanitarian situation
As Special Representative and Head of UNSMIL, Batili also briefed ambassadors on the humanitarian and human rights situation in Libya, noting the continuing plight of migrants and asylum-seekers, as well as the growing number of refugees from the Sudan.
On the security front, hundreds of Chadian mercenaries and foreign fighters have reportedly returned to Chad from Libya, but the security situation in southern Libya remains worrying as a result of the crisis in the Sudan and the wider Sahel region.
Batili said the "fragile security" situation in the capital, Tripoli, remains threatened as security actors try to achieve "territorial control" over strategic areas where military bases and state institutions are located.
