In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, 57 Libyan political parties have urged him to improve and elevate the performance of the UN mission in Libya, in accordance with the magnitude of the challenges facing the country.
The parties expressed their dissatisfaction with the UN envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, and his recent statements and actions.
They said that the mission’s performance “has lost its momentum and influence, despite its modest attempts to break the political deadlock in Libya.”
They also accused the mission of becoming a tool for serving the interests of those who want to prolong their stay in power.
Therefore, the parties demanded that the mission “urgently rearrange its priorities and raise its performance level, giving more opportunities to work with political and civil society institutions and entities, within a specific timeframe to accomplish its tasks, and using all available means to pressure the obstructing parties.”
They called for reviving the work on the political, economic and military tracks that the mission has advanced in over the past years, involving Libyan experts and specialists who are concerned and knowledgeable about these issues, and adding a fourth track related to building local governance.
The parties also appealed to the UN for a firm and decisive stance to ensure the completion of the elections according to consensual laws, in order to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
The UN envoy to Libya Bathily has faced criticism and opposition from some political parties, especially in eastern Libya, after he expressed his reservations about the electoral laws approved by the parliament. The parliament considered this as interference in Libyan affairs and an attempt to hinder the elections, and demanded his departure.
