UN official warns of challenges threatening political progress in Libya
UN Representative warns of the impact of political divisions on the economy and elections
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
New York, October 14 (KUNA) -- The UN Special Representative for Libya, Hanna Tetteh, warned on Wednesday of the deepening challenges facing the political process in Libya, despite progress made in recent months, due to the continued refusal of some parties to engage constructively and their use of inflammatory rhetoric and disinformation. This came during a briefing delivered by Tetteh, who also heads the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), at a session held by the UN Security Council on developments in Libya.
Tetteh cautioned that these practices threaten to harden political positions, undermine the willingness to make concessions, and justify unilateral actions that could obstruct the political process or trigger violence. She noted that the agreement reached by participating parties at the mini-summit on August 30 represented a breakthrough in the protracted political and institutional deadlock, affirming that the progress achieved over recent months has laid a crucial foundation for advancing the political process.
She stressed the need to address institutional challenges hindering national elections, foremost among them the division within the judiciary, and to work toward unifying institutions and creating suitable conditions for holding elections in an environment of relative calm.
On the economic front, Tetteh warned of the continued negative repercussions of political and institutional divisions on the Libyan economy, citing the decline in citizens’ purchasing power despite rising global oil prices. She explained that disruptions to oil infrastructure and the closure of some pipelines in September reflected the economic impact of political and security fragmentation on strategic national assets.
On the security front, she noted that the overall situation remains fragile, despite positive steps toward enhancing cooperation between military and security institutions in the east and west of the country. She also renewed her call to halt further executions, following the carrying out of death sentences against 58 individuals convicted of previous terrorism-related crimes. She warned against the continued spread of hate speech, incitement, and disinformation targeting refugees, migrants, humanitarian workers, and UN staff in Libya.
In conclusion, Tetteh called on all Libyan parties to demonstrate the flexibility and political will necessary to reach common ground, affirming that the path toward a stable, unified, and prosperous Libya remains long but still achievable. (End)
