Tripoli – In a meeting marking International Youth Day, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Libya, Hanna Tetteh, engaged with over forty young leaders in Tripoli this Wednesday. Organized by the Youth Dialogue Forum, the event brought together youth from across Libya to share their perspectives on the country’s political process. SRSG Tetteh affirmed the importance of their involvement, stating, “Libyan youth should have a say in their future,” and noted that the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has been actively seeking public opinion through polls and consultations.
The youth participants voiced specific demands for the upcoming political roadmap, calling for it to be “realistic and implementable.” Key concerns included the need for meaningful youth representation, enhanced security, the establishment of a constitution, and a resolution to the economic impact of ongoing instability. They strongly emphasized the necessity of creating mechanisms to hold political spoilers accountable and to ensure that elections can be held safely with results that are respected by all parties.
In her response, SRSG Tetteh acknowledged a widespread loss of confidence in Libya’s institutions and stressed the need to refocus on the essential steps required to hold elections. She stated, “we have to focus on the tasks which need to be done to bring about elections and which bring the Libyan people back into the centre of the process.” The SRSG concluded by highlighting the continuing and crucial role youth will play in implementing the roadmap and ensuring Libyan stakeholders are held accountable.