Libya: UN envoy lashes out at feuding groups then resigns
The feuding political parties in Libya and their UN supporters drove Abdoulaye Bathily, the country’s UN envoy to lash out in frustration and submit his resignation, according to The Associated Press.
After holding the job for 18 months, on 16th April the Senegalese minister said he had done his best to form a unified government to lead the country after the five political rivals had disagreed over electoral laws.
Mr Bathily said that his attempts to resolve the rivalries “were met with stubborn resistance, unreasonable expectations and indifference to the interests of the Libyan people.”
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After the meeting of UN officials in Libya last week, Baathily declared “the time is now ripe for a political settlement and the formation of a unified government to lead the country until elections are completed.”
However, Bathily chose to resign after it was clear that Libya had “become the playground for fierce rivalry among regional and international actors,” who were consumed by their political, geopolitical, and economic interests.
UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that the Secretary-General, Antonio Gutierrez accepted the resignation and was grateful for Bathily’s “tireless efforts to restore peace and stability to Libya.”
Libya has been plagued with instability since 2011 when longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was assassinated during a NATO-backed uprising. The chaos divided the country and rogue militants and foreign governments sought power.
The political crisis that led to Bathily’s resignation stemmed from the absence of a national election in December 2021 after Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Ddeibah refused to step down from his reign of power as leader of the transitional government in Tripoli.
On the 31st March, the Prime Minister’s nephew’s house and office were shelled with rocket-propelled grenades. There were no casualties.
While the oil-rich country flounders in internal politics, the UK struck a $1 million deal with Libya to curb migration.
However, human rights organisations have found Libya’s anti-migration methods to be incredibly harsh. On 2nd March, the Libyan coastguard opened fire on migrants who were forced to jump into the sea and abandon their boats. The EU has since been urged to cease its support for the Libyan coastguard.
AP/HRW
