In a statement issued yesterday, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was ‘‘concerned about recent political and security developments and warns against the risk of escalatory unilateral actions by political and security actors’’.
UNSMIL was reacting to the three constitutionally contested decrees issued by Libya’s Presidency Council last Tuesday (29 April), which the Presidency Council described as a ‘‘National Rescue Plan’’. It said its decreed are based on the Constitutional Declaration which, in its view, gives it the right to legislate and issue laws.
The three decrees are meant to be part of the first package of 12 Presidency Council decrees to be launched at a later date as part of the so-called National Rescue Plan.
The three decrees include the promulgation of the law on the safeguarding, unity and independence of the judiciary, the activation of the national reconciliation process, and the activation of the process of direct resort to the people’s self-determination.
In its statement, UNSMIL called ‘‘on all political and security actors to refrain from taking steps that could jeopardize the process of consultation and compromise the fragile peace and stability of the country.
The transition process in Libya has been characterized by deepening political divisions resulting from unilateral actions. Continuing along this path risks further fragmentation of state institutions.
We call upon the political and security actors to commit to creating the necessary conditions for constructive consultations to establish a consensual political framework that will lead the country to credible and inclusive elections. This is essential for the realization of the aspirations of the Libyan people for a representative government and a unified, stable and prosperous country’’, UNSMIL’s statement concluded.
Norland warns against unilateral actions
U.S. Special Envoy to Libya, Ambassador Richard Norland, meanwhile, posted on the U.S. Embassy X site: “We fully share UNSMIL’s view that all political and security actors must avoid destabilizing unilateral actions. Progress on the economic and security tracks is laying groundwork for progress on the political track. Every opportunity should now be given to build consensus on a path to elections.”
