Title: “The crisis in Libya: the urgency of political unification to avoid disintegration”
Introduction :
Libya is going through a critical period, threatening its unity and stability. The country’s political actors are called upon to urgently form a unified government and move towards elections in order to prevent inevitable disintegration. This is the message launched by Abdoulaye Bathily, the United Nations special envoy for Libya, during a recent meeting of the Security Council. In this article, we will examine the various factors contributing to this political crisis and the measures needed to address them.
The context :
Since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plunged into chaos. The country has divided into different factions, with rival administrations in the east and west, supported by rebel militias and foreign governments. This political fragmentation has led to a paralysis of institutions, making it difficult to organize free and fair elections.
The current political blockage:
The current political crisis stems from the failure of the December 24, 2021 elections and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah, who led a transitional government in Tripoli, to resign. In response, Libya’s eastern-based parliament appointed a rival prime minister, Fathi Bachagha, who was suspended last May. Additionally, powerful military commander Khalifa Haftar continues to exert influence in the east of the country.
The concerns of the United Nations special envoy:
During recent meetings with the main political actors, Abdoulaye Bathily noted persistent intransigence on their part, none wanting to reverse their initial position. The preconditions required by each party to participate in the negotiations seriously compromise the holding of the long-awaited elections. The special envoy urges rival parties to lift restrictions on the activities of the National Electoral Commission, to allow local elections to be held in the country’s 97 municipalities this year.
The urgency for political unification:
The UN special envoy stresses that the current status quo is causing growing frustration among the Libyan population. Leading political figures have a responsibility to put aside their personal interests and work together to reach a compromise. Political divisions and armed conflicts only worsen the country’s already precarious humanitarian situation, particularly with regard to migrants, refugees and women victims of collective violence..
The role of the international community:
Abdoulaye Bathily calls on the Security Council and the international community as a whole to adopt a coordinated and unified approach to encourage the holding of presidential and legislative elections in Libya. Foreign countries should also pressure Libyan political actors to engage constructively in the UN-facilitated preparatory talks.
Conclusion :
Libya finds itself at a crucial point in its history, where political unification and the holding of elections become imperative. Libyan political actors must realize the urgency of the situation and put aside their personal interests for the well-being of their country. The international community also has a crucial role to play in supporting mediation efforts and encouraging a peaceful and democratic solution for Libya. The future of the country depends on it.