📋 Tender Overview
Thank you for the opportunity to brief you today on the situation in Libya. Let me first wish the Libyan people and all Muslims celebrating Eid Al Adha, a joyous occasion. May it bring respite for those suffering. It is the first Eid al-Adha since the Derna disaster, a tragic event that brings back memories of those who lost their lives in this terrible catastrophe. Yet, in the face of adversity, the Libyan people continue to demonstrate determination and unity.
Since assuming the role of Officer in Charge and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for political affairs, I began consultations to hear the concerns and priorities of the Libyan people, including their views on an inclusive Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process. To date, I have held meetings in the East and West of Libya. I met with political leaders and officials, academics, civil society organizations, women’s groups, and military leaders. I also engaged representatives of cultural components, business people, as well as members of the diplomatic community. These consultations are ongoing, and while I plan to visit other areas of the country soon. I will now share with you some observations to date.
Overwhelmingly, citizens conveyed the need for a political agreement so that credible national elections can be held to restore legitimacy to all institutions. I discussed the need for an inclusive Libyan-led process to overcome the political impasse and support the Libyan people in achieving their aspirations for peace, stability, prosperity and democracy. Libyans have also shared their ideas on what a future political process should look like, including the role of the five key Libyan institutional actors, of the two Chambers, the need for a broad-based type of dialogue, a combination of the above, and other ideas.
Many have signaled the importance of a “pact” or an agreement that would, among other things, affirm the parties’ respect for electoral outcomes. Similarly, some have emphasized the importance of including sufficient detail and mechanisms of enforcement in any future agreement to help ensure that the parties will adhere to its terms.
They also provided ideas on a roadmap on the substantive aspects, including whether to focus on issues of an interim government formation and steps to advance the holding of elections. Other citizens and officials expressed the need to address underlying conflict drivers. These to focus on issues relating to the economy, security structures, and the governance structure in Libya. The need for more decentralization, inclusiveness, fairness and transparency in governance was also widely expressed.
Many Libyans continue to express deep concerns about the de facto division of the country and parallel governing institutions. I share this concern. These developments undermine economic, security and stability, as well as Libya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, amidst concerns about the impact of geopolitical tensions playing out on Libya.
