The outgoing UN Advisor on Libya, Stephanie Williams, reiterated that she had warned that the Libyan political class is looking for powerful posts rather than leading Libya toward elections.
Williams told Al-Arabiya TV Channel that the Libyan politicians are opportunistic and work for their own interests, adding that the recent protests in Libya were a reaction to the inability of the politicians to reach consensus on constitutional framework for elections because some persons "hijacked the political future of Libya."
"There is a lost generation in Libya after 11 years of chaos, division and corruption. There are hybrid Libyan entities, linked to the state, that looted hundreds of millions of dollars. The current political class wants to keep transitional governments ongoing." Williams said, commenting on the change of National Oil Corporation's board and said that it happened without the UN's knowledge and that the whole process's timing is questionable.
She said the constitution shouldn't be made to fit some person or another, adding that a lot of work has been done toward the constitutional framework and both negotiating parties should end their differences to lead the country to the first presidential elections, commending the progress in the military track and JMC 5+5 meetings, and reiterated the need for unifying military institutions to be led by Libyans, with an urgent meed for foreign states to respect Libya and make mercenaries leave the country.
Meanwhile, the UN announced that July 31 is the last work day for Williams in Libya. The UN spokesman Farhan Haq said UNSMIL Officer-in-Charge and Mission Coordinator Raisedon Zenenga will step in until a new envoy and head of mission is announced.