Hannah S. Tetteh, who also heads the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (MANUL), stressed the need to overcome delays in the implementation of the political roadmap this paves the way for presidential and legislative elections, a new unified government and a structured dialogue on crucial issues of governance, economy, security and reconciliation.
Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been divided between the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) based in the capital Tripoli in the west and a rival administration in Benghazi in the east.
Lack of confidence
Ms. Tetteh collaborated with stakeholders on the implementation of the roadmap she presented to the Council in August.
However, the first two steps – the formation of a board of directors of the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC) and the adoption of the constitutional and legal amendments necessary for the elections – have not been achieved.
“We believe that the delays are a manifestation of the lack of trust between the two institutions, their own internal divisions and their inability to overcome their differences and agree on the way forward from the current impasse,” she said.
The two institutions she referred to are the two Libyan parliaments: the High Council of State (HCS) in Tripoli and the House of Representatives (HoR) in Benghazi. Although the HNEC board currently has enough members to conduct its business, the East is not represented. Despite this, municipal elections were able to be held in October.
“It would be desirable for the HNEC to have a fully constituted board of directors to manage the process of conducting what would be the most important elections in the history of the country,” she said.
Following simultaneous protests in five cities last month, House Speaker Aguila Saleh called for presidential elections. The HNEC also said it was ready to begin preparations for presidential and parliamentary elections starting in April, and GNA Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh echoed these calls.
On the issue of constitutional and legal amendments needed for the elections, Ms Tetteh said the HCS had dissolved its delegation to the “6+6 Committee” – tasked with proposing new electoral laws to govern voting – as early as 2023. The reconstituted delegation was only announced on December 17 this year following internal conflicts.
A structured dialogue begins
This month also saw the launch in Tripoli of the inaugural meeting of the Structured Dialogue, with UNSMIL bringing together 124 representatives from key sovereign institutions, civil society, political parties, academia and the cultural world.
“This is the first process of this scale to take place on Libyan soil,” she said, and the plan is to facilitate meetings of the four thematic working groups across the country, as well as online.
The process “should help facilitate the creation of the political conditions necessary for a peaceful electoral process to take place, and also contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the aftermath of the elections.”
Economic fragility and rights violations
Meanwhile, Libya continues to make do with a weak economy. In November, delegates from the House of Representatives and the HCS signed an agreement on a common framework for development spending. The UN Mission welcomed this as a step in the right direction “provided it is implemented with transparency, effective monitoring and alignment with Libyan law and international public financial management standards”.
Addressing the human rights situation, Ms. Tetteh expressed deep concern over violations, including violence against women, migrants and minorities, and deaths in custody. She said the assassination of blogger Khansa Al-Moujahed in Tripoli last month “sends a frightening message to women about their participation in public life and risks silencing them at a time when their contribution is most needed.”
UNSMIL has also verified the deaths of 25 people in custody since March 2024, which “raises serious concerns about broader patterns of arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and lack of accountability.”
Rise above differences
Concluding her speech, Ms. Tetteh insisted that “the political process must not be held hostage by the inaction of the main political actors who, voluntarily or not, maintain the status quo.”
She highlighted that Libyans will celebrate Independence Day on December 24, when national elections are due to take place in 2021.
“Four years later, the country’s path to elections remains fraught with challenges that are difficult but can be overcome,” she said.
“I call on all Libyan leaders to respond to the demands of the Libyan people and overcome their differences in the interest of the unity and integrity of the Libyan state and to advance the well-being of the Libyan people.”
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
