United Nations warns of deteriorating security situation and repercussions of "institutional fragmentation" in Libya
New York, August 19 (KUNA) -- The United Nations warned of deteriorating security conditions and the repercussions of continued “institutional fragmentation” in Libya, emphasizing the need to advance the political process toward unifying institutions and creating the conditions for comprehensive elections. This was stated in a briefing delivered by the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Libya, Hanna Tetteh (via video link), at a session held by the UN Security Council on Tuesday evening to discuss the situation in Libya.
Tetteh said the political process “goes beyond merely bridging the gap between political parties to include restoring the state’s capacity to meet citizens’ needs and manage its resources responsibly under unified institutions, while providing security and enhancing resilience.”
She added that the widespread power outages recently, accompanied by public discontent amid a prolonged heatwave, highlighted the consequences of “institutional fragmentation,” lack of investment, and absence of coordination in decision-making.
Tetteh stressed that the need to advance the political process in Libya “remains of paramount importance,” noting that the country “is going through a critical phase that requires strengthening unified institutions and creating the necessary conditions for comprehensive elections.” She emphasized that achieving this requires political will and a readiness to make concessions by the relevant Libyan parties, prioritizing national interests and the interests of the Libyan people, alongside continued coordinated international support.
She pointed to progress made on the three pillars of the roadmap aimed at helping Libya move toward elections, ending successive transitional arrangements, and restoring the unity, cohesion, and legitimacy of national institutions.
Tetteh clarified that the roadmap may take longer than initially anticipated, which “does not mean losing our bearings” but rather represents a necessary adaptation to the political reality and the views of Libyan parties and international partners.
On the economic front, Tetteh said the electricity crisis, which lasted until August, “highlighted a paradox involving the expenditure of approximately $1 billion monthly on fuel imports, according to data from the National Oil Corporation, while the electricity system remains vulnerable to fuel shortages.”
On the security front, Tetteh warned that conditions along Libya’s western coast “are fraught with risks” amid competition among armed groups involved in illicit activities, including drug and human trafficking, and fuel smuggling. (End) A.S.T
