📋 Tender Overview
Deputy Special Representative and Political Officer for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said that, in her ongoing consultations in the east and west, “overwhelmingly, citizens conveyed the need for a political agreement so that credible national elections can be held to restore legitimacy to all institutions”. The importance of including details and mechanisms for enforcement in any future political agreement to help ensure adherence has been emphasized. Addressing underlying conflict drivers has been raised, including economic, security structure and governance issues. The need for more decentralization, inclusiveness, fairness and transparency was widely expressed. Libyans are calling for a national political solution and local elections. She highlighted that in June the High National Elections Commission opened voter registration for municipal elections in 60 municipalities, with over 30,000 people registering so far. “This is an important step, although voter registration, in particular female voter registration, remains quite low.” The Commission, with UNSMIL, is encouraging greater registration, but 10 of 12 in-person registration centres in the eastern municipalities have been prevented from opening. She urged the authorities to allow them to open.
She underlined that Libyans are concerned about conflict prevention and preserving stability. There were clashes in April in Tripoli’s Ain Zara district, in May in Al-Jmail and Al-Zawiya, and a car bombing last week in Tripoli, alongside reports of continued arms build-up in the country. These are “a stark reminder of the fragility of Libya’s security landscape” and underscore the “importance of unified, reformed security sector institutions and the importance of local mediation efforts”. While no violation of the ceasefire was recorded during the reporting period, progress on the withdrawal of foreign forces, foreign fighters and mercenaries remains stalled. The security situation in several neighbouring countries has disrupted contact initiated by the 5+5 Committee with the liaison committees established by these nations.
For many, she noted, the economic situation is difficult, with high prices and inequitable distribution of resources and opportunities. “Unifying the national budget is an absolute necessity,” she said, urging all stakeholders to resolve remaining differences to ensure its swift adoption and transparent implementation. Expressing deep concern over reports of a repetitive pattern of abduction or arbitrary arrest and detention, she said that UNSMIL will continue to call for transparent and independent investigations into any deaths of men and women in custody and disappearances. Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers continue to experience horrible human rights violations. A comprehensive legal and policy framework is needed to address their situation. On 28 May, UN agencies and humanitarian partners in coordination with Libyan authorities launched the 2024 Sudan Refugee Response Plan for $43.8 million to meet the needs of 195,000 Sudanese refugees and host communities.
Underlining that it is critical to advance national reconciliation and transitional justice, she commended the work of the Presidential Council and the House of Representatives Justice and Reconciliation Committee for agreeing on one draft law that upholds victims’ rights and adheres to international standards. UNSMIL launched in May its new youth engagement strategy to empower young people, focusing on training, advocacy and networking, and in June completed its first annual training programme for 30 young women leaders from across Libya, with a second following in September. She underscored that “the status quo is not sustainable”, noting that, “while institutional and political divisions keep deepening, ordinary Libyans long for peace, stability, prosperity and reconciliation”. She called for “resolute and united action” to advance the political process, with the international community’s support.
