The United Nations Security Council was briefed by the UN’s top envoy to Libya, Abdullah Batili, who emphasized the critical state of deadlock in Libya, posing a significant threat to the country’s future. During his address on Thursday, Batili pointed out the impossibility of making progress towards conducting credible elections in Libya without a consensus among the key political figures.
Batili urged the Libyan political actors to prioritize the nation’s interest over personal gains and to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement on forming a unified government. This step is crucial to ensure the conduct of national elections and to prevent the country from “sliding into disintegration,” according to the official UN website.
The special representative appealed to the Libyan leaders’ sense of moral duty to negotiate and reach a compromise that would restore the dignity of their homeland. He highlighted that reluctance to take such steps not only casts doubt on their commitment to elections but also on the unity and future of their country, for which they bear responsibility.
In an attempt to break the political impasse, Batili invited the leaders of Libya’s five main institutions in November 2023 – the Government of National Unity, the House of Representatives, the High Council of State, the Libyan National Army, and the Presidential Council – to engage in discussions.
Despite ongoing engagement with these key players, Batili noted that none had shifted from their initial positions, each setting preconditions for their participation in the dialogue as a means to maintain the status quo, which seemingly suits their interests.
The head of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, insists that the main issue remains the formation of a unified government, conditioning his participation on either the involvement of both governments or their complete exclusion. Mohamed Takala, head of the Libyan High Council of State, rejects the election laws published by the House of Representatives, advocating for a focus on reviving the “original” version of the text.
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, head of the Government of National Unity, asserts that he will step down only after elections are held, implying that the current government will oversee the upcoming electoral process. Meanwhile, Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar demands that both the Government of National Unity and the Government of National Accord be part of the discussions or be entirely excluded.
Batili informed the ambassadors that the head of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Menfi, does not wish to be seen as a party to the conflict but is willing to act as a facilitator to support the UN initiative.
The UN is open to considering proposals that could lead to a peaceful and comprehensive settlement. Batili emphasized the critical role of the Security Council and the international community in pressuring Libyan leaders to engage constructively. He noted the importance of alignment and support from regional partners and cautioned against parallel initiatives that do not support UN efforts, as they might be used by Libyan actors to perpetuate the status quo.
