Libya: UN mission urges candidates to accept results & peaceful transfer of power| United Nations

The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Hanna Serwaa Tetteh called on all candidates to “accept the election results as the choices made by their voters, and where there have been choices for change to facilitate the peaceful transfer of power to the newly elected leaders.” Tetteh briefed the Council today (21 Aug) in New York on the situation in Libya. She noted that 26 Libyan municipalities successfully went to the polls on 16 August in spite of significant challenges. She commended the dedication of HNEC, their staff and teams in the polling stations and the security officials for making the elections possible. “By the end of polling day, voter turnout was 71 per cent,” the head of UNSMIL said, describing it as “a clear signal that the Libyan people are yearning to elect their representatives.” “In some areas, this was the first time any elections have happened since 2014,” Tetteh added. However, the chief of UNSMIL added, “the suspension of municipal elections in eastern and southern Libya previously referenced is an equally clear sign that not all are committed to supporting Libya’s democratic development and there is an urgent need for a reset in the political process.” Tetteh also proposed a roadmap built around three core pillars: one, the implementation of a technically sound and politically viable electoral framework aimed at holding Presidential and Legislative elections; two, unifying institutions through a new unified government; and three, a structured dialogue that enables broad participation of Libyans to address the critical issues that need to be tackled in order to create a conducive environment for elections, shaping a shared vision and addressing long term drivers of conflict while underpinning short term efforts to unify institutions and enhance governance in key sectors, she told the Council. The head of the Mission reaffirmed UNSMIL’s call for “a unified, realistic and balanced budget that reflects agreed priorities and promotes financial sustainability and monetary stability.” She also urged all concerned entities that receive public salaries throughout Libya to “adhere to the automated public salary payment system.” Tetteh is also alarmed by the forced return of migrants to conflict zones, including Sudan. She said, “In Kufra, the number of Sudanese refugees exceeds the number of residents, and conditions are dire.” The UNSMIL chief urged the donor community to “increase its support for our refugee response plan.” Somalian Ambassador Mohammed Rabiussef spoke as the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. He reiterated the Committee's commitment to “contributing to the promotion of peace and stability in Libya.” For his part, Libyan Ambassador Taher M. El-Sonni told the Council, “Everything we are discussing today and have discussed in the past, be it illegal migration or the spread of arms or terrorist groups or armed groups, or violations of human rights to the smuggling of oil and other. All of these are simply manifestations.” He continued, “There will be no solution to the crisis unless efforts are focused on a comprehensive political solution and a true reconciliation, and a fundamental solution that will put an end to interferences and division and return legitimacy to the people through free and fair and transparent elections, through a permanent constitution for the country. And as we always hear from you, effective support for the leadership and for Libyan ownership and leadership of the solution.”


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