New York: Europe and the Arabs
Before the UN Security Council, Stephanie Khoury, Acting Head of the United Nations Mission in Libya, said that the overwhelming majority of Libyan citizens express the need to reach a political agreement so that credible national elections can be held that lead to the restoration of legitimacy to all institutions.
In the periodic briefing on developments in Libya, Khoury, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, said that since she assumed her position in March 2024, she has conducted meetings in eastern and western Libya with various parties, including political leaders, officials, academics, civil society organizations, and women’s groups.
She added that she discussed the necessity of an inclusive process led by Libyans to overcome the political stagnation and support the people in achieving their aspirations for peace, stability, prosperity and democracy. She said: “The Libyans presented their ideas about what any political process conducted in the future should look like, including the role of the five main Libyan institutional parties, including the House of Representatives and the State, or a dialogue with broader participation, or a combination of this and that, as well as initiatives.” Other".
Khoury stated that some citizens and officials stressed the necessity of identifying the root causes of the conflict, with a focus on problems related to the economy, security structures, and governance structures, and the need to enhance decentralization, inclusion, equity, and transparency.
She pointed to the concerns of many Libyans about the reality of division on the ground and the existence of parallel governing institutions. She said: "I share these concerns. These developments are capable of destabilizing economic and security stability, not to mention undermining Libya's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, amid concerns about the impact of geopolitical tensions on Libya."
Security challenges
Khoury touched on security challenges, noting that brief, albeit violent, clashes occurred in the densely populated Ain Zara area in Tripoli. She said that the leaders of the armed formations successfully participated in the dialogue efforts to calm the situation.
In May, there were sporadic clashes between armed groups in the Al-Jameel and Al-Zawiya regions, and a car bomb was detonated in Tripoli last week, in addition to reports of continued arms buildup inside the country.
She said that all of this is a stark reminder of the fragility of the security scene in Libya, and that these dynamics underscore the critical importance of unifying and reforming security institutions, and the importance of local mediation efforts.
It touched on the situation of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who are subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, extortion, forced labor and deportation. She stressed the need to develop a comprehensive legal and political framework to address their situation and manage the migration issue in line with international principles.
National Reconciliation
Stephanie Khoury stressed the importance of pushing the national reconciliation process forward, praising the work of the Presidential Council and the Justice and Reconciliation Committee in the House of Representatives for agreeing on a single draft law for national reconciliation and transitional justice that preserves the rights of victims and adheres to international standards.
She called on all relevant bodies to engage in the same spirit so that this vital legislation could be adopted on the basis of consensus.
At the conclusion of her briefing, the UN official said that there is consensus among the Libyan people on the need to advance the political process, stressing that the current situation is unsustainable.
She added: “While institutional and political divisions deepen, ordinary Libyans yearn for peace, stability, prosperity and reconciliation. It has therefore become necessary for resolute and united action by Libyans, with the support of the international community, to achieve progress in the political process.”