UN Envoy Urges Libyan Leaders to Overcome Differences, Hold Elections

The UN Special Representative, Abdoulaye Bathily, briefed the Security Council on the ongoing impasse in Libya, calling on leaders to fulfill their moral and political responsibility to bring the nation back to peace and stability. The presidential and parliamentary elections, postponed in December, remain a top priority. Bathily has been holding talks with key leaders, encouraging dialogue and reminding them of the need for free and fair elections.

Key Takeaways:

• The UN Security Council is urging Libyan leaders to overcome their differences and hold long-awaited presidential and parliamentary elections.
• The UN Special Representative, Abdoulaye Bathily, has been holding talks with key leaders, including consultations with stakeholders from all regions across the oil-rich nation.
• Bathily noted that nearly a year has passed since the polls were postponed, and that the genuine political will of some institutional players needs to be tested against reality.
• Bathily warned against prolonging the interim period, as Libya could become even more vulnerable to political, economic, and security instability, as well as the risk of partition.
• Women's rights remain a concern, with women facing rising online violence and needing improved opportunities to engage in the elections as voters and candidates.
• Bathily commended the active and positive participation of women and young people in the grassroots levels of Libya's society.

Statistics:

• Nearly one year has passed since the presidential and parliamentary elections were postponed.
• Seven years have passed since the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement, a UN-brokered deal on forming a unity government.
• The cease-fire is still holding, despite continued escalatory rhetoric and the build-up of forces on both sides.
• Lack of accountability, transparency, and equity in the allocation of resources remains a key cause of tensions in Libya.

Sources:

• Abdoulaye Bathily, UN Special Representative
• United Nations Security Council
• United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)