The UN’s Special Representative, Abdullah Batili, announced the formation of a comprehensive contact team between the United Nations mission and various influential groups in Southern Libya. The initiative aims to address pertinent issues, primarily focusing on gathering their perspectives on the ongoing political process and national reconciliation efforts.
This development was revealed during a meeting held on Tuesday at the UN mission’s headquarters in Tripoli with activists and community leaders from Southern Libya. Through his X platform account, Batili shared that the attendees discussed the political process and expressed their concerns about the continuous marginalization of their region and its lack of representation. They advocated for the inclusion of the South in all levels of political, economic, and security discussions.
Batili relayed the Southern leaders’ support for all efforts directed towards resolving the current political divide, emphasizing the “urgent need for the formation of a unified government that would guide the country towards elections, setting the stage for lasting peace and stability.”
The Special Representative underscored that “the South should be a cornerstone in every initiative that aims to maintain Libya’s unity and territorial integrity.” He urged the authorities, both in the East and the West, to address the grievances of the Southern region concerning political participation, development, or equitable wealth distribution.
Earlier in the day, Batili met with members of the Social Council of Khums city, who voiced their concerns about the “potential impact of the new electoral laws on their community and electoral districts.”
The UN envoy is conducting a series of engagements with various stakeholders to garner support for the UN-facilitated political process in Libya, aspiring to conclude with the much-anticipated presidential and parliamentary elections.