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Thursday, 29 October 2020_The United Nations (UN)’s acting Libya envoy has expressed hope that the upcoming political talks between warring parties in the North African country will result in the setting of a date for national elections, as diplomats say the UN Security Council has ratified the recently announced truce.
“What resonates is a clear and direct desire for there to be elections in as rapid a timeframe as possible,” Stephanie Williams said on Tuesday, cautioning, however, that the foreign governments involved in the conflict may undermine the peace talks.
“I hope we hear more voices in the international community pushing, pressuring both the internal and external actors to take advantage of this very positive dynamic,” Williams emphasized, referring to the momentum of the talks following a ceasefire agreement between the Libyan warring factions that was reached on October 23.
“Whatever executive authority they agree on really needs to have a clear focus: preparing for the elections,” Williams said. “I do fully expect there to be a date designated for elections.”
Also on Tuesday, the UN Security Council ratified the ceasefire and called on both sides to implement the agreement in full, diplomatic sources said as cited in press reports.
Libya has since 2014 been divided between the internationally-recognized government based in the capital, Tripoli, in the west, and a rebel faction based in the city of Tobruk in the east.
Last week in Geneva, the Tripoli-based government agreed to the truce with the eastern-based rebels, who are led by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
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