After years of political instability and conflict, Libya is making substantial progress on the road to peace, the country’s top UN official told the Security Council on Thursday.
Stephanie Williams, Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) reminded the Council of the nationwide ceasefire agreed last month in Geneva and the start of a political dialogue last week in Tunisia.
“After many years of oppression, division, chaos, misery, and conflict, Libyans are coming together for the good of Libya, for the sake of their children and grandchildren, to chart a Libyan vision for the way forward that offers the possibility of preserving the unity of the country and reaffirming its sovereignty,” she said during a presentation by videoconference.
“When guns are silenced, civilians are protected”
Ms. Williams recalled that the historic ceasefire for Libya was concluded in Geneva on October 23, where members of a joint military commission, made up of representatives of the Government of National Accord (GNA) recognized by The UN and the armed group, the Libyan National Army (LNA), of Khalif Haftar” put aside their differences and, guided by their patriotic spirit, responded to the Secretary-General’s call for a ceasefire. -world fire ”.
The ceasefire agreement provides for the withdrawal of all military units and armed groups from the front lines, as well as the departure of mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya, within 90 days.
With the maintenance of the ceasefire, UNSMIL facilitated dialogue between the GNA, located in western Libya, and the ANL, which holds power over large areas in the east of the country.
The Joint Military Commission has drawn up the conditions for a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, while a coastal road essential for movement and transport of goods has been reopened and a prisoner exchange program is underway.
“The sharp drop in civilian casualties from the second quarter of 2020 is another reminder that when guns are silenced, civilians are protected,” Ms. Williams said.
Roadmap for the elections
Meanwhile, Libya has resumed oil production after lifting a blockade for several months, and a project to unify and restructure the forces protecting the oil facilities is underway.
Ms. Williams summoned the Libyan parties to Tunis last week, to pave the way for a political dialogue. The 75 participants, including 16 women, represented the main geographic, social, and political constituencies of Libya.
The dialogue organized in Tunisia gave rise to a political roadmap, including the holding of elections scheduled for December 24, 2021, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Libya’s independence.
“The Libyans have made it clear. The organization of presidential and parliamentary elections is their demand and must be our common objective,” she declared.
No time for complacency
However, the senior UN official warned “there is no time for complacency” as the situation in Libya remains unstable.
Although the Joint Military Commission seeks to operationalize the ceasefire agreement, the parties have yet to withdraw their forces, while arrangements for the distribution of oil revenues will depend on progress on the political front.
Ms. Williams also urged the international community to respect and fully support the various agreements reached by the parties. “This (Security) Council has tools at its disposal, in particular, to prevent the obstructionists from jeopardizing this rare opportunity to restore peace in Libya. I ask you to use them,” she told the 15 council members.
In his address to the Council, the Ambassador of Libya to the United Nations, Taher Al-Sunni, underlined several points for the success of the current political dialogues, such as the need for a binding resolution to support the points on which the Libyans have come to an agreement during their various dialogues.
Mr. Al-Sunni also spoke out against foreign intervention in his country.
“We call on the Security Council and the international community to seize this opportunity and show goodwill in supporting the will of the Libyan people and their right to self-determination; not to use Libya as a means of settling scores,” he said.
Shared security and prosperity
While being optimistic about Libya’s future, Williams said she remained “clear-headed” about the challenges ahead.
“Ten years of war cannot be resolved in a week of political talks, but we now hear the language of peace more than the language of war,” she told Council members.
“Only a shared responsibility, nourished by patriotism and love for the country, can lead to the shared security and prosperity to which so many Libyans aspire,” recalled the Acting Special Representative.
“The Libyans deserve, if not the support, at least the non-interference of the main international actors as they seek to forge a sovereign political path for future Libyan generations,” she concluded.
