UN: Libya's 'high volatility' calls for elections

A senior UN official stated on Monday that Libya is locked in a constitutional and political impasse that has prompted escalating conflicts, a severe economic situation, and rallies across the nation by disgruntled residents. The overall situation in Libya is still "extremely dangerous," according to Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee, with tense security, "very troubling" displays of power, and intermittent violence by militias engaged in political scheming.

She also brought up serious human rights concerns, including the alleged arrest by armed groups of dozens of protesters who participated in July 1 demonstrations protesting the deteriorating living conditions and calling for progress on elections. She also brought up a dispute over the leadership of the National Oil Corporation.

Oil-rich Since Muammar Qaddafi's long-standing dictatorship was overthrown and killed in 2011, Libya has been torn apart by conflict. Rival governments—one in the east supported by military leader Khalifa Haftar and another in the west in the capital city of Tripoli—have split the nation. Different militias and international powers back either side.

Haftar and his troops began an operation in April 2019 in an effort to seize Tripoli. After Turkey increased its military backing for the UN-backed government with hundreds of troops and thousands of Syrian mercenaries, his campaign failed. Elections were scheduled for last December 24 as a result of a cease-fire agreement reached in October 2020. The transitional administration would be led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

However, no elections were held. Dbeibah has refused to resign, therefore the nation's eastern-based parliamentarians chose Fathy Bashagha, a former interior minister who currently runs a separate government out of the city of Sirte, as prime minister in opposition.

According to Pobee, "key disputed points" in a 2017 proposal for a new constitution were resolved during a meeting in Geneva last month between Khaled Al-Meshri, head of the government's Supreme Council of State in Tripoli, and Aguila Saleh, speaker of the country's east-based parliament. However, she claimed that they were unable to reach a consensus on a crucial matter - the qualifications for running for president.

The Tripoli-based council is adamant that neither military personnel nor dual citizens are allowed to seek office. That appears to be geared at Haftar, a polarising commander and US citizen who had declared his candidacy for the postponed election in December.

Stephanie Williams, the UN's special envoy for Libya, has maintained communication with both parties, according to Pobee, "and urged them to bridge this divide."

Williams reaffirmed that elections are "the only enduring solution that firmly places Libya on the path toward peace and stability" at a July 21 gathering of international partners in Istanbul, Pobee added.

Pobee pleaded with the council members and Libya's allies to use their clout to persuade the warring parties to agree to elections as soon as possible.

The Tripoli government's UN representative for Libya, Taher El Sonni, stated that "the current situation could get out of hand at any time unless radical solutions are found away from foreign meddling and political machinations."

He charged that the Security Council's inaction was caused by internal strife and "paralysis." He asked the group's participants to pay attention to the demonstrators in Libya "and their great yearning to end this tragedy and get out of this cycle of conflict and never-ending problems."

The council meeting was held in advance of the UN political mission in Libya's mandate, which includes a Joint Military Commission monitoring the 2020 cease-fire, expiring on July 31. The monitors intend to convene in Sirte in early August to finalize a recommended strategy for their exit, according to Pobee. The resolution of the council approving the mission asked for the evacuation of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya.

Due to Russia's insistence that the UN mission must first have a new special representative before it can have a longer mandate, the council decided to prolong it for only three months on April 29.

Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's deputy UN ambassador, informed the council on Monday that Moscow acknowledges Antonio Guterres' efforts to find a solution. The best course of action, he claimed, is to extend the mission for another three months until a candidate can win over the support of the Libyan people, regional players, and all council members.