U.S. reaffirms support for Libya’s December elections

By Sami Zaptia.

London, 21 January 2021:

The U.S. has reaffirmed its support for Libya’s planned 24 December elections. This is the first comment by the U.S. under the newly inaugurated U.S. President, Joe Biden.

The reaffirmation came yesterday during a virtual meeting between U.S. Ambassador to Libya Richard Norden and Emad Al-Sayah, head of Libya’s High National Elections Commission (HNEC). HNEC is the entity that would oversee the elections.

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The statement will also send a message to potential status quo obstructers.

Here is the U.S. Embassy’s report on the meeting in full:

‘‘Yesterday, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland and Dr. Emad Al-Sayah of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) discussed U.S. support as Libya prepares to hold national elections on December 24, 2021, as agreed by the UN-facilitated Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF).

Noting Wednesday’s reaffirmation of the democratic transfer of power in the United States, the Ambassador reiterated the U.S. partnership with HNEC as it fulfils its apolitical mandate to allow Libyans to exercise their sovereign right to choose their leaders through fair and transparent elections.

The Ambassador also welcomed genuine efforts through the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) to resolve long-standing constitutional questions related to the election.

“We are confident these efforts will fulfil the will of the Libyan people – east, west and south – to improve their lives through the establishment of a unified interim executive authority that will deliver better governance and prepare for successful national elections in December,” Ambassador Norland said.

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