UNSMIL alarmed by reported attack on Sebha court looking into Saif Qaddafi’s election disqualification appeal

By Sami Zaptia.

Tripoli, 27 November 2021:

UNSMIL said it was alarmed by the reported attack yesterday on a court in Sebha.

The attack was reported to have occurred while the court was set to consider the appeal by Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi into his disqualification by the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) from standing in the country’s presidential elections set for 24 December 2021.

Reports say an armed group stormed the court’s headquarters and expelled the judges, employees and court workers.

Recalling the UN Security Council Resolution 2570 (2021), Paris Conclusions and most recently the Presidential statement of the Security Council with regards to accountability for acts that obstruct the elections, UNSMIL said it strongly condemns any form of electoral-related violence and reiterates that the electoral process must be protected.

It said attacks against judicial or election facilities or judicial or elections personnel as are not only criminal acts, punishable under Libyan law, but also undermine Libyans’ right to participate in the political process.

UNSMIL reiterated its calls for holding transparent, fair, and inclusive elections on 24 December, as per the LDPF roadmap and relevant Security Council resolutions.