Latest news with #UNSupportMission
Libya Observer
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Observer
Russian ambassador meets UNSMIL chief amid rising tensions in Tripoli
The Russian Ambassador to Libya, Aydar Aganin, has met with the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, Hanna Tetteh, to discuss the country's current political and security landscape, including recent unrest in the capital, Tripoli. In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the Russian Embassy said the talks, held on Tuesday, also covered the work of the UN Support Mission's advisory committee and the prospects for reviving the political process under UN auspices. The meeting is part of ongoing coordination between Moscow and the United Nations, aimed at supporting stability in Libya and promoting dialogue among the country's divided factions, the Russian Embassy explained. News Tagged: UNSMIL Russian embassy in Libya
Arab News
17-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
UN envoy calls for swift political compromise to end prolonged crisis in Libya
NEW YORK CITY: The UN's top envoy for Libya, Hanna S. Tetteh, warned the Security Council on Thursday that continued political gridlock and institutional fragmentation risk plunging the country further into instability, unless urgent compromise can be achieved and a unified path to elections agreed. Addressing council members in person for the first time since her appointment in February as the secretary-general's special representative for Libya, Tetteh noted that although the country's leaders broadly agree on the need for elections, deep divisions remain over whether they should be preceded by the development of a constitutional framework or proceed under existing arrangements. 'Political will for compromise is crucial to develop a consensual road map resolving Libya's political crisis and completing the transition,' she said. 'Elections must be integrated into a comprehensive political framework promoting state-building by unifying and strengthening institutions.' Tetteh reported that the UN Support Mission in Libya has been facilitating consultations through an advisory committee tasked with addressing electoral challenges. The committee, which held sessions in Benghazi and Tripoli, is expected to submit its report by the end of this month. 'We will assess these options and use them as a foundation for forging consensus on the next steps of the Libyan-led and owned political process,' she added. Although a fragile 2020 ceasefire agreement continued to hold for now, Tetteh warned that military tensions continue to run high, particularly in the south of the country where clashes in Qatroun have resulted in heavy casualties. She also noted that recent armed mobilizations among western factions in Tripoli have raised fears of renewed violence. 'The situation will remain fragile until there is political will to unify security and military forces under a shared vision,' Tetteh said. She also highlighted worsening economic conditions marked by currency depreciation, inflation and disputes over oil revenues. A recent decision by Libya's National Oil Corporation to halt oil- for-fuel transactions was welcomed for promoting transparency, but disagreements continue, particularly following the Central Bank's devaluation of the national currency, the dinar. 'Several stakeholders have suggested an audit of key Libyan state institutions by a top-five international firm,' Tetteh said. 'This would help address lapses in financial management and promote accountability.' On the humanitarian front, Tetteh decried the targeting of migrants and aid workers, and linked a surge in xenophobic rhetoric to increased violence, arrests and even deaths. 'The targeting of humanitarian organizations, migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees must stop,' she said. She also expressed concern about arbitrary detentions, with legal professionals and political opponents among those targeted. She called for the immediate release of all individuals held without due process, and for the adoption of legislation to protect women from violence. 'Women in Libya face significant challenges and violence without adequate social or legal protection,' Tetteh said as she highlighted the need for swift passage of the long-delayed Protection of Women Against Violence Law. The voter registration process recently concluded for municipal elections in 62 cities and towns, including Tripoli, Benghazi and Sabha. More than 570,000 people registered, 31 percent of them women. Tetteh hailed this as a 'crucial step for grassroots democratic governance' but noted several cases of interference and called for legal procedures to be respected. She also pressed for resolution of political standoff within the High Council of State Presidency, warning that it undermines national governance. 'Every day, ordinary Libyans face recurring crises: economic, security and political,' Tetteh said. 'The aspirations and needs of the Libyan people are held captive by protracted divisions and harmful unilateral actions.' She concluded with a stark warning to the international community: 'Inaction will be more detrimental than the cost of change.' Tetteh urged the Security Council and the wider international community to unify behind a political plan to support democratic governance and sustainable development in Libya.
Arab News
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
UN raises alarm over wave of ‘arbitrary' arrests in Libya
TRIPLI: The UN Support Mission in Libya expressed concern over what it said were arbitrary arrests, including of lawyers and members of the judiciary, calling for their immediate release. 'UNSMIL is alarmed by the wave of arbitrary arrest and detentions across Libya by law enforcement and security actors,' it said in a statement. 'These actors are using their powers of arrest and detention to target individuals for their alleged political affiliations, to silence perceived dissent, and to undermine judicial independence.' Libya has struggled to recover from the chaos that followed the 2011 uprising. It remains split between a UN-recognized government in Tripoli and a rival authority in the east. UNSMIL also expressed concern about the use of filmed confessions, 'where individuals are detained and coerced into 'confessing' to alleged crimes with videos published online.' It said the practice was used to 'intimidate and humiliate' the individuals and must be deemed inadmissible. Among those arrested was Judge Ali Al-Sharif, who was subjected to violence during his arrest in Tripoli on March 10, as well as lawyer Mounir Al-Orfi, detained in Benghazi since March 12. UNSMIL said that two military prosecutors, Mansour Daoub and Mohammed Al-Mabrouk Al-Kar, have also been held in Tripoli since 2022. The situation 'undermines the environment necessary for Libya's democratic transition and weakens Libyans' trust in law enforcement and security entities that must work to protect and promote the rights of all people in Libya, not undermine them,' UNSMIL said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UN Mission Affirms Priority to Unify Libya's Military
Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, held talks on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad, Chief of General Staff of the Libyan Army. The two officials discussed the current developments in the country and ways to unify the military, which is divided between the west and east of Libya. 'Tetteh and Al-Haddad emphasized that the unification of the military should remain a priority for authorities across Libya, as the security and stability of the country are crucial for any political process to move forward,' UNSMIL said in a statement. They also explored how the UN Mission can effectively support Libya's efforts towards unifying military institutions, enhancing border security, and addressing other key areas of national security, it added. In Tripoli, Tetteh also met with Acting Libyan Interior Minister, Imad Trabelsi. The two sides exchanged views on the current situation and on how the Mission can support Libyan efforts in enhancing security provision, de-escalating tensions, and promoting dialogue between authorities and communities. They also discussed the Ministry's key role in election security and in contributing to a safe environment conducive to an effective political process. Later, Tetteh and Secretary-General Deputy Special Representative, Stephanie Koury, met with the Libyan Minister of State for Women's Affairs, Houria Al-Tormal, to discuss the importance of women's inclusion in the political process and their role in decision-making. Tetteh reaffirmed UNSMIL's commitment to supporting the Libyan government's efforts to promote women's empowerment programs and ensure their meaningful participation in achieving sustainable development and stability in Libya. Separately, Director General of the Development and Reconstruction Fund of Libya, Belqasim Haftar, met in Rome, with Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, to discuss ways to develop joint cooperation between the two sides in the fields of development and reconstruction. Talks focused mainly on the sectors of health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, transportation and air freight and on resuming flights between Libya and Italy. Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the Government of National Stability, Osama Hammad, issued on Thursday a directive prohibiting all ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of public institutions from sharing or disseminating any news related to public affairs without prior approval from the Communications and Media Department at the Prime Minister's Office. The decision came after the controversy caused when Libya's Justice Minister issued a statement on his social media account, affirming the release of Hannibal Gaddafi. Hannibal, the son of the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, has been detained for years in Lebanon. The Prime Minister stressed that ministry-affiliated media outlets should strictly focus on covering the daily activities of their respective ministries while ensuring continuous oversight from the PM's Office to maintain accuracy and prevent the spread of misinformation.
