MADRID, 23 (EUROPA PRESS)
The head of the United Nations mission in Libya, Hannah Tetteh, has estimated that there is still at least another year to go before a difficult democratic transition process in Libya culminates in general elections and thus emerges from an almost endemic cycle of transition following the death of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and the ensuing civil war in a country now fractured between two rival administrations.
In an appearance before the Security Council this week, the Ghanaian diplomat outlined a picture of both positive and negative aspects marked by the municipal elections that began last week. The high turnout, 71 percent, sends a "clear signal that the Libyan people yearn to elect their representatives," but the suspension of elections in the south and, especially, in the east of the country, a stronghold of the parallel government, "is an equally clear signal that not everyone is committed to supporting Libya's democratic development."
"There is an urgent need for a restart of the political process," the UNSMIL chief added. "The Libyan people look to this esteemed (Security) Council for help in ensuring a solution to the crisis and supporting a political process that results in elections and unified institutions, not a succession of transitional governments," she recommended.
"The message we have received has been to end the cycles of repeated transition periods; preserve and strengthen the unity of the country and its institutions, as well as renew its legitimacy through presidential and legislative elections and put an end to what has often been called foreign interference," Tetteh said.
To this end, the head of the UN mission has estimated it will take between 12 and 18 months to complete the roadmap, which will culminate in general elections and several "sequential steps," including enhancing the capacity of the Electoral Commission and modifying the legal and constitutional frameworks for holding full, legislative, and presidential elections.
"Following these two preliminary steps—which could be concluded within the next two months at the most if there were the political will to do so—there should be an agreement on a new, unified government capable of creating an environment conducive to credible elections while effectively managing key governance functions," he noted.
The UNSMIL chief, however, emphasized the enormous security problems still facing the internationally recognized Libyan government in Tripoli, which is unable to timely contain the outbreaks of violence between the militias swarming through the city. In this regard, Tetteh stated that the fragile truce following the May clashes is still holding, although some violations have occurred.
UNSMIL has also documented 20 deaths in custody since March 2024, including political activist Abdel Munim Al-Maremi, who died last month in Tripoli shortly after a release order had reportedly been issued.
On a separate note, the Ministry of the Interior of the Tripoli Government has reported that it managed to dismantle a rocket attack against the UNSMIL headquarters in Tripoli in the capital last Thursday night, coinciding with the statements of the head of UNSMIL, and has indicated that investigations continue to identify the attackers, according to a statement posted on its X social media account.
"The Ministry of the Interior has developed a comprehensive security plan to protect the headquarters of the UN mission and all other diplomatic missions, in coordination with various security agencies," he stated.
Meanwhile, in its initial reaction, the rival government in eastern Libya welcomed the roadmap presented and reaffirmed its firm commitment to the demands of the Libyan people, while also reiterating its willingness to cooperate with all national and international partners in a manner that serves Libya's supreme national interests and safeguards its sovereignty and stability.
However, the political leader of the eastern government, the speaker of its House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, has once again claimed that the eastern authorities are the true, legitimate representatives of the people's will, in a further demonstration of his rejection of the authority of the Tripoli government headed by Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibé.
