Libya ‘spoilers’ put elections in jeopardy, UN says

North African country’s squabbling politicians are not ‘walking the talk,' Jan Kubis said

Jan Kubis, UN Special Envoy for Libya, expressed concern over the December elections. EPA

The UN’s envoy to Libya, Jan Kubis, said on Thursday that gridlock among the North African country’s squabbling politicians has left national elections planned for December in jeopardy, raising the risk of a return to widespread conflict.

Mr Kubis told the Security Council that political factions “maintained their entrenched positions” at talks of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, a 75-member body consisting of delegates from all walks of life in Libya, this month in Geneva.

“I'm afraid many of them are not ready to walk the talk,” said Mr Kubis.

“Old and new status quo forces are using diverse tactics and often legitimate arguments with only one result — obstructing the holding of the elections.”

Delegates remain divided on key issues in the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 24, including whether military personnel and dual citizens can run and if it is necessary to hold a referendum on a draft constitution first, Mr Kubis said.

He accused “spoilers” of scuppering agreement on a legal framework underpinning the vote and creating a “confrontational, intense” atmosphere that raised the chances of a “return to conflict, violence and chaos”.

Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Security Council that the 15-nation body should "not tolerate any obstruction".

"We must take a strong stance against those who favour postponing the elections for selfish political motives," he said.

Libya’s government, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, was appointed by the forum earlier this year in a vote mired in allegations of graft. Its main task is to ready the nation for elections in an effort to end a decade-long conflict.

Libya has been roiled by corruption and chaos since a Nato-backed uprising overthrew long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. The country has more recently been split between a UN-backed government in the capital, Tripoli, and rival authorities in the east.

Each side was backed by foreign governments and armed groups. The UN estimated last year that some 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries have fought in Libya, from countries including Turkey, Syria, Russia, Chad and Sudan.

Eastern-based Field Marshal Khalifa Hiftar and his forces launched an offensive in April 2019 to try to capture Tripoli, but his 14-month campaign collapsed after Turkey propped up the UN-backed government, sending troops as well as Syrian mercenaries.

A ceasefire agreement in October led to a deal on the elections and a transitional government that took office in February. All foreign fighters and mercenaries were urged to exit Libya within 90 days, but that demand has not been met.

Separately, Amnesty International on Thursday condemned the "horrific violations" being committed against migrants forcibly returned to Libya with help from European states after trying to cross the Mediterranean.

The campaign group presented evidence of "harrowing violations, including sexual violence, against men, women and children" intercepted at sea and forcibly returned to lock-ups in the oil-exporting nation, it said in a report.