\u201cWe are concerned that the protracted political impasse is having an increasingly negative impact on security,\u201d said Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo.<\/p>\n
\u201cA coordinated and constructive effort is required to prevent further polarization and end the political stalemate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commendable progress
\nBriefing the Security Council on #Libya this afternoon, @DicarloRosemary urged Libyan political and security actors to continue to engage constructively in support of the electoral\/constitutional track and prevent further polarization. Her full remarks: https:\/\/t.co\/NxtJ5laUo0 pic.twitter.com\/3PC1QRuCKw<\/p>\n
\u2014 UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (@UNDPPA) May 26, 2022<\/p>\n
Last week, UN Special Advisor Stephanie Williams convened a second round of consultations of the Joint Committee of the House of Representatives and High State Council, in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, reviewing a reformed constitution for a democratic way forward for the country, the 2017 Constitutional Draft.<\/p>\n
The delegations reached agreement in several areas, including basic rights and freedoms; the structure and powers of a two-tier new parliament; and the prerogatives of the President and Prime Minister.<\/p>\n
Under UN auspices, members will reconvene on 11 June for a final round to reach consensus on finalizing constitutional arrangements to hold key national elections \u2013 delayed from last December \u2013 as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
The Special Adviser also met Presidency Council members, who expressed their intention to continue working on a national reconciliation process with UN and African Union support.<\/p>\n
\u2018Fragile\u2019 security
\nWhile the 2020 ceasefire continues to hold, Ms. DiCarlo stated that the security situation \u201cremains fragile\u201d.<\/p>\n
She drew attention to clashes in the capital on 17 May, following the recent political crisis which began in March, which saw the eastern parliament select a new government. The incumbent UN and internationally-backed Prime Minister however, refused to stand aside.<\/p>\n
The parliamentary choice for the top job, Fathi Bashagha, entered Tripoli backed by armed groups, leading to skirmishes with supporters of incumbent Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah.<\/p>\n
One militant died, a policeman was injured and several buildings were damaged.<\/p>\n
Following mediation by local actors and outreach by military representatives, from the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission (JMC), Mr. Bashagha was escorted out of Tripoli.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile fighting has ceased, the situation remains tense. Tripoli-based armed groups supporting either Mr. Dbeibah or Mr. Bashagha remain in a state of high alert,\u201d the political chief said.<\/p>\n
Positive note
\nShe reported that the JMC\u2019s eastern and western delegations met on Monday and Tuesday in Spain for the first time since the end of February.<\/p>\n
After discussions with the 5+5 Commission, the Special Adviser said that the members expressed their readiness to resume negotiations over the Ceasefire Agreement implementation.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the reluctance of the Government of National Unity (GNU) to pay the Libyan National Army\u2019s (LNA) salaries for the first quarter of this year \u2013 the military wing of the rival eastern administration \u2013 triggered the closure of several oil fields and ports, \u201ccutting the country\u2019s daily oil output in half,\u201d Ms DiCarlo told ambassadors.<\/p>\n
However, following Special Adviser Williams\u2019 intercession with the GNU, the outstanding salaries were paid. Mr. Dbeibah confirmed that he would authorize regular monthly payments.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 UNICEF\/Alessio Romenzi
\n\u201cOil production, however, has yet to return to normal,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Rights concerns
\nThe human rights situation in Libya remains a source of great concern, Ms. DiCarlo told the Council, elaborating on a new wave of youth arrests for alleged crimes against \u201cLibyan culture and values\u201d.<\/p>\n
And restrictions persist on the work of civil society organisations, including women\u2019s rights groups accused of violating \u201cthe principles and values of Libyan society.\u201d<\/p>\n
Special Adviser Williams visited mass graves in Tarhouna and met with families of victims who disappeared between 2012 and 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe perpetrators of these horrific crimes have yet to be brought to justice,\u201d said Ms. DiCarlo, shining a light on the \u201chighly precarious\u201d situation of internally displaced people.<\/p>\n
Equally worrying are the continued campaigns of mass arrests and detention \u2013 in inhumane conditions \u2013 of undocumented foreign nationals and migrants in the western region.<\/p>\n
Resolving differences
\n\u201cIt is imperative that the ceasefire in Libya be maintained, calm preserved and any steps that could result in renewed violence be avoided,\u201d the political chief underscored.<\/p>\n
It is imperative that the ceasefire in Libya be maintained \u2013 UN political chief<\/p>\n
She stressed the need for all parties to uphold their commitment to \u201cthe peaceful resolution of political differences\u201d and for political and security actors to \u201clook beyond their personal interests and continue to engage constructively\u201d in upcoming talks supporting the electoral\/constitutional track.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the only way to fulfil the aspirations of the Libyan people to select their representatives through the ballot box,\u201d Ms. DiCarlo said, maintaining that the UN would \u201cspare no effort\u201d to support Libyans in building \u201ca stable and peaceful country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staunch allies
\nThe Under-Secretary-General flagged the importance of the Council\u2019s support, which she described as \u201cinvaluable in keeping a political process alive\u201d.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a coordinated and constructive effort is required to prevent further polarization and end the political stalemate.<\/p>\n
During a time of \u201caggravated global turmoil,\u201d she upheld that unity in the Council and the international unity on peace in Libya is \u201cespecially important\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is what Libyans deserve. It is what the world needs,\u201d concluded Ms. DiCarlo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite UN efforts, political, economic and security deadlock continues in Libya, the UN political affairs chief told the Security Council on Thursday, adding that human rights there have also deteriorated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":9075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,15],"tags":[7,26,25],"class_list":{"0":"post-9078","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"category-politics","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-politics"},"yoast_head":"\n