Excellency Ambassador Jean Leon Ngandu Ilunga Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for the month of November 2024,

H.E. Jean Claude Gakosso, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Congo and Chair of the AU High Level Committee on Libya,

Excellencies, Esteemed Members of the Council,

Representatives of the State of Libya,

Ambassador Wahida Ayari, Special Representative of the Chairperson in Libya,

Representatives of the UN Mission in Libya,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like, on behalf of H.E. Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, to welcome this opportunity to brief the Council on the situation in Libya and to thank you, Mr. Chair, for including this important item in the Council's work program for November. Today's meeting is taking place at a critical moment for Libya and its people. Since the unsuccessful elections of December 2021, the country has faced great uncertainty.

As you are aware, political stalemate persists between the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU), based in Tripoli and led by Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeiba, and the eastern-based Government of National Stability (GNS) backed by the House of Representatives and the Libyan National Army under the command of Marshal Khalifa Haftar. 

Despite the House of Representatives adopting two laws in October 2023 — drafted by the 6+6 committee regarding presidential and parliamentary elections — the conflicting parties have yet to make progress in resolving their disagreements regarding the organization of national elections.

A key source of contention remains whether to form a unified interim government with the primary responsibility of organising elections or to reshuffle the current government.

This year, we have seen further political confrontations intensified, most recently during the summer between the House of Representatives and the Executive authorities. 

For the fourth time since 2021, on 13 August 2024, Parliament voted to end the GNU's term and designate the eastern government as the "legitimate government" of Libya until a unified interim government is appointed.

Additionally, the House of Representatives named its Speaker, Aguila Saleh, as the Supreme Commander of Libya's armed forces. However, the Presidential Council—designated by the Libyan Political Agreement of 2015—continues to serve as the "Supreme Commander" of the army. 

A further worrying trend remains unilateral decisions. These are exacerbating the conflict. On 18 August 2024, the Head of the Presidency Council issued a decree to change the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) Governor and the board of directors. In response, the eastern region declared a "force majeure" on all oil and gas fields and installations.

This crisis has significantly impacted the daily lives of citizens and trade transactions, as the CBL is the depository for public revenues and one of the few state institutions serving both governments. 

However, we have seen a return to a more normal situation when Eastern and Western actors reached an agreement on 26 September 2024, following two rounds of UN-brokered talks. A new governor has taken office after a swearing-in session by the House of Representatives. 

Turning to the security situation, the ceasefire agreement established on 23 October 2020 continues to hold. The risk of a large-scale war remains low, and local mediation has succeeded in containing occasional threats of violence from armed factions in the western part of the country.

I can report that improved security conditions have facilitated some progress in both economic and humanitarian areas. However, significant challenges persist due to the lack of national consensus in resolving the political conflict.

The current political stalemate is not sustainable, and the ongoing debate over the legitimacy of state institutions has yet to restore peace and stability in the country.

At the African Union (AU), we are dedicated to reconciliation efforts to foster national consensus and help ease political tensions. During this reporting period, the AU completed eight visits to Libya, including participation in the preparatory committee for the Reconciliation Conference.

Despite some setbacks, the AU remains undeterred, particularly regarding the postponement of the reconciliation Conference, whose agreed date and venue were decided by the people of Libya in April.

Recently, an AU high-level delegation visited Tripoli on 10-11 October 2024 to meet with senior authorities who expressed their gratitude for the AU's support of Libya since 2011. The delegation was led by H.E. President Mohamed Ould Sheikh Al-Ghazouani of Mauritania, Chair of the AU for the year, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AUC, and H.E. Jean-Claude Gakosso, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Congo, representing H.E. President Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Chair of the AU High-Level Committee on Libya (HLC).

In closing, I would like to express the AU’s gratitude to the Libyan authorities for their goodwill and readiness to continue working and cooperating with the AU to overcome the challenges ahead on the path to national reconciliation. The AU remains indebted to H.E. President Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Chair of the AU High-Level Committee on Libya (HLC), for his continued leadership and commitment to the restoration of peace, security and stability in Libya.

I thank you for your kind attention.

 

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