Libyen

The Head of the Presidential Council Mohammed Menfi met Wednesday in Tripoli with the US Special Envoy to Libya, Richard Norland, and explained his vision for addressing the current political impasse, stressing his keenness to advance the political process in partnership with the United Nations. … The American delegation, headed by Norland, began a working visit to Libya … in order to mobilize support for the political process led by the UN.

The United Nations (UN) envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily held a number of meetings on Tuesday with the ambassadors of France, Germany, Egypt, the Netherlands, and Tunisia, dealing with developments in the political situation in Libya, and renewed his invitation to Libyan leaders to sit for dialogue.

The United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) has sent an invitation to the members of the Joint Military Commission (JMC) 5+5, to discuss activating what was signed at the Geneva meeting in October 2020 regarding the removal of mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya, according to local media sources.

Despite recent legislative progress, Libya’s political landscape remains fraught with power struggles, as key figures attach conditions to taking part in crucial talks, the UN envoy to the north African nation said on Monday.

[…] He will succeed Natalina Cea as of 1 January 2024, and his mandate will run until 30 June 2025. Jan Vyčítal is a Czech civil servant and diplomat, who has worked at senior level for more than 20 years, and currently serves as Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Tunisia, with accreditation for Libya.

Members of the High Council of State (HCS) and House of Representatives (HoR) from the southern region announced on Wednesday their rejection of the initiative of the United Nations envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, regarding the political process that had witnessed a stalemate in the recent period.

The Security Council decided today to extend until 31 October 2024 the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), as it expressed concern about the humanitarian impact of catastrophic flooding in the east of the country and urged Libyan political institutions and key stakeholders to resolve outstanding differences on the road to nationwide elections.

The Libyan parliament on Wednesday demanded the departure of ambassadors from countries that "support" Israel as it fights Hamas militants in Gaza, taking specific aim at the United States, Britain, France and Italy.

[…] In the bid to finally hold national elections towards a new unity government the UNSMIL chief noted some progress.

The EU may extend its naval military operation Irini off Libya to include Tunisia, as a further means to prevent people from fleeing on boats towards Italy.