United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has provided a comprehensive assessment of the political, security and economic situation in Libya, outlining 10 key observations in a report covering the period from December 2023 to April 2024.
In the report, Guterres emphasized the importance of supporting the UN mission’s efforts to facilitate an inclusive national dialogue to resolve outstanding issues and enable Libyans to freely choose their leaders. He called on the country’s political leaders to participate in UN-mediated talks in good faith and with a spirit of consensus, prioritizing the national interest over personal and partisan agendas.
“I urge the main Libyan leaders to demonstrate their political will to hold credible, transparent and inclusive national elections as soon as possible,” Guterres said, noting that the outgoing UN envoy, Abdullah Bathily, had previously tried to convene a five-party dialogue table to discuss the electoral process before resigning earlier this week.
On the municipal level, Guterres welcomed the Libyan election commission’s announcement of plans to organize votes in 97 municipalities in 2024, calling on the authorities to allow the body to carry out its work without obstacles. He also expressed support for the efforts of the Berlin Process International Follow-up Committee on Libya to expand the country’s civic space and create conditions for a successful political transition.
Regarding national reconciliation, the UN chief stressed that an inclusive process with the full participation of women, youth and civil society is “a cornerstone for lasting peace and stability” in Libya. He commended the work of the Presidential Council, supported by the African Union, in taking preparatory steps towards a national reconciliation conference in Sirte, though the event has now been postponed.
However, Guterres voiced continued concern over the “overall security situation” in the country, citing persistent tensions and clashes between armed groups in various regions. He called on all security entities to actively participate in efforts to unify the security institutions and ensure a secure environment for elections.
The report also highlighted Guterres’ alarm over the “widespread violations of international law, including human rights law” by security forces, as well as the issues of enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings that “highlight the excessive control” of civil society and government opponents.
On the economic front, Guterres praised the Central Bank of Libya for its organizational restructuring, saying the new legal framework will facilitate transparent financial support for small and medium enterprises. He stressed the importance of fully implementing the recommendations of an international audit to achieve the bank’s reunification and reform.
Additionally, the UN chief welcomed a joint report on the rapid assessment of flood damage in Libya, calling on the country’s leaders to establish a coordinated national platform to ensure fair and transparent allocation of reconstruction resources to the affected areas.