The United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), France, Italy and Germany, have issued a joint statement to strongly support the United Nations envoy Abdoulaye Bathily's call for Libya’s leaders to work together toward a binding political settlement that paves the way for national elections and a unified government.
The joint statement posted on the countries embassies' X accounts said that a consensus-driven process that has buy-in from all sides offers the best path for elections and a future of peace, unity, stability, and prosperity for the Libyan people.
Bathily said in his briefing at the Security Council on Monday that election laws alone cannot and will not make elections happen, adding that they need to be supported by the buy-in of a wide range of stakeholders, including the major institutional players, but also military and security actors, political parties and candidates, community leaders, civil society organisations, women and youth groups, media professionals and other constituencies.
Bathily called on all stakeholders, including major leaders, to meet and agree on a binding political settlement towards a peaceful electoral process, the backbone of which will be a unified government to lead Libya to elections, adding that UNSMIL "stands ready to facilitate this process."
He also reiterated his call on all international partners of Libya to support this electoral process as the only way to provide the country with legitimate institutions and a future of peace, unity, stability, and prosperity.
