Head of UNSMIL arrived in Tripoli to continue his discussions with government and Presidential Council officials

Libyan Cloud News Agency – Tripoli

The Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Jan Kubis arrived in Tripoli on Monday to continue his discussions with the new Government of National Unity and various Libyan actors to fast-track the implementation of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) Roadmap, including mobilizing the required support and resources to hold the national elections on 24 December 2021.

The Head of the Presidential Council (PC) Mohamed Menfi and his deputies Abdullah El-Lafi and Musa Alkoni held a meeting with Kubis, accompanied by UNSMIL Coordinator Raisedon Zenenga and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Georgette Gagnon.

Members of the PC reiterated their commitment to implement the LPDF roadmap, including fostering a comprehensive national reconciliation process; unifying sovereign institutions; and importantly to hold the elections on 24 December 2021. 

The meeting covered the need to accelerate the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including the removal of foreign fighters, and the unification of security institutions.

The PC members also reiterated the need for the House of Representatives (HoR) to accelerate the process of appointing leadership positions for sovereign institutions.

Kubis also met with Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dabaiba. He congratulated the Prime Minister on the historic vote of confidence by the HoR and smooth handover from the Government of National Accord. 

Kubis briefed Dabaiba on the outcomes of his visits to several European and regional capitals as well as his outreach to a number of international and regional high-level stakeholders. He assured the Prime Minister of the unanimous support of the international community to his government to address the economic, humanitarian, security, human rights, and development challenges in the country.

Both sides agreed on the importance of prioritizing the needs of the people, including the response to COVID-19, and the provision of essential services. They stressed the urgent need to approve the national budget to ensure service delivery, allocate resources for local governance, and to hold the national elections on 24 December 2021.

Kubis also met with the Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush, who expressed her appreciation for the UN and international community’s support extended to Libya during this critical time. She stressed the need for a more coordinated approach to address the root causes of the conflict in Libya in order to launch a comprehensive and realistic process of national reconciliation and restorative justice.