UN envoy warns Libya’s transition at risk amid political roadmap stalemate

UN envoy warns Libya’s transition at risk amid political roadmap stalemate
UN envoy warns Libya’s transition at risk amid political roadmap stalemate

Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, said that while some progress has been made in implementing a UN-backed political roadmap, divisions between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State continue to block key steps needed before the long-awaited national elections.

“The two institutions have yet to achieve this goal,” Tetteh told ambassadors at the Security Council.

“They have not yet jointly discussed the constitutional and legal framework for the elections. Achieving political consensus on these issues will be a challenge… (but) Libya cannot afford continued delays or disruptions.

Lack of political will

The first milestone of the roadmap – reconstituting the full Board of Commissioners of the High National Electoral Commission – remains incomplete.

Disagreements persist over whether to replace all seven members or fill only vacant positions, a debate Ms. Tetteh said reflects “a broader lack of political will.”

He urged Libyan leaders to “engage constructively” to complete initial milestones, adding that if no agreement is reached, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) will “look for another approach” and seek the Council’s support to ensure the roadmap moves forward.

Hanna Serwaa Tetteh (on screen), Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in the country.

Vital inclusive process

In parallel, UNSMIL is preparing to launch national dialogue sessions in November, aimed at bringing together broader segments of Libyan society – including civil society, youth and women’s representatives – to help shape an inclusive political process.

It will cover governance, security, economics and human rights.

Ms. Tetteh also reported a reduction in tensions throughout the capital, Tripoli, following mediation between the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the so-called Deterrence Apparatus to Combat Organized Crime and Terrorism (DACOT), giving credit to local actors and Türkiye’s intervention.

A stable security environment is essential for political stability and progress,” she said.

Corruption and oversight

Regarding governance, he expressed concern about corruption and weak supervision, highlighting the discovery by the Central Bank of billions of dinars in unregistered currency.

He welcomed Libya’s recently launched national plan to combat corruption, calling it “an important step forward” but one that would require “political will to promote transparency and accountability.”

The senior UN official underlined the Libyan people’s desire for legitimate and unified institutions.

“They deserve long-term political stability and peace,” he said. “UNSMIL is committed to supporting them..”

Source link