The situation could deteriorate even further given that meeting the basic needs of refugees has become increasingly difficult due to a lack of funding –with serious implications for migration and security dynamics in Africa and beyond.
The situation at the Ras Ajdir border crossing remains western Libya’s most dangerous fault line with serious risks of escalating.
Earlier this month, Mohamed Aoun was said to be reinstated as Minister of Oil & Gas. However, he has been unable to assume his duties as the acting O&G Minister Khalifa Abdulsadek continues to occupy his seat.
Stephanie Koury, the newly appointed Acting Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, delivered her first briefing to the UN Security Council. She underscored the need for a political agreement to break the current stalemate and pave the way for credible elections in Libya.
Stephanie Koury, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Political Affairs, delivered her inaugural briefing to the UN Security Council on the situation in Libya after assuming the role of Acting Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). She is replacing Senegalese diplomat Abdoulaye Bathily, the former Special Representative of the Secretary-General, who resigned in April, stating that “the world body could not successfully support the country's political transition as its leaders had put their own interests above finding a solution.”
Khouri began her briefing by summarizing key observations from consultations and meetings held over the past month with a diverse range of stakeholders. These included political leaders, officials, academics, civil society organizations, women's groups, military leaders, and representatives of cultural communities and the business sector from both eastern and western Libya. She reported that the overwhelming majority of Libyans she spoke with emphasized the need for a political agreement to overcome the current deadlock and achieve credible national elections to restore legitimacy to all institutions.
In these meetings, Koury discussed with Libyan stakeholders the framework for any future political process, highlighting the role of Libya's five main institutional parties. This initiative, previously attempted by Bathily, aimed to bring together the House of Representatives (HOR), the High Council of State (HCS), the Presidential Council (PC), the Government of National Unity (GNU), and the Libyan National Army (LNA) to resolve disagreements over electoral laws. However, this effort was hindered by each party imposing their own preconditions for participation, for instance by requesting the inclusion of the eastern-based Government of National Stability (GNS). Koury also mentioned the potential for a broader dialogue, similar to the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), which had produced the interim roadmap leading to the formation of the GNU and the PC in 2021. Ultimately, she suggested that the upcoming political process might be a blend of both approaches.
The situation could deteriorate even further given that meeting the basic needs of refugees has become increasingly difficult due to a lack of funding –with serious implications for migration and security dynamics in Africa and beyond.
The situation at the Ras Ajdir border crossing remains western Libya’s most dangerous fault line with serious risks of escalating.
Earlier this month, Mohamed Aoun was said to be reinstated as Minister of Oil & Gas. However, he has been unable to assume his duties as the acting O&G Minister Khalifa Abdulsadek continues to occupy his seat.
Six months after the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) announced the launch of municipal elections, the Commission has initiated elections for the first group of municipal councils with expired terms and newly established steering councils.
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