Participants in the UN-brokered Libyan Political Dialogue Forum failed to reach a full agreement

On November 9, the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum​ started in Tunis. It was organised by the United Nations Support​ Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), led by American diplomat Stephanie Williams. The Forum participants were tasked with reaching an agreement that would restore the unity of the country and schedule general elections. In addition, the Forum participants also needed to choose a new head of the Presidential Council and a Prime Minister who would lead the country until the elections.

But Participants of the UN-brokered Libyan Political Dialogue Forum failed to reach a full agreement in discussions over the future of Libya and potential resolutions to the country’s ongoing civil war. One of the reasons was because the UN was trying to impose ready-made solutions on Libyans, instead of allowing them to decide their own future.

Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Stephanie Williams told journalists in Tunis that the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum would be continuing discussion in a week’s time. Despite no agreement being reached, Williams said the participants in the talks had “come together over significant issues in a very short period of time”.

It should be recalled that from the very beginning, Libyan and international experts questioned the selection of forum participants.​ There were 75 participants, all of whom had been approved by UNSMIL. The principal requirement was that participants should not hold public office at the time of the event. As a result, out of 75 participants, 13 were delegated by the House of Representatives, 13 by the High Council of State, and 49 were chosen by UNSMIL itself as representatives of civil society.

In this regard, when the list of participants was announced, there were accusations that the participants had no significant political influence in Libya itself and could not represent the interests of Libyans.

The forum participants had accused the UN of unfair play, since only 45 out of 75 participants had taken an active part in the event. In addition, some media reported that there had been an “exchange” for buying votes. The UN said that it would investigate the rumours about alleged bribes to secure the votes of participants in the dialogue. “This is also a form of obstruction of the dialogue, about the progress that is being made, because it undermines the trust and confidence in the process,” Williams said. “Those who are identified as obstructionists could be subject to international sanctions,” she added.

Experts emphasize that the forum is deadlocked. In fact, these negotiations did not yield any results.

 

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