Tetteh Says Libyan Political Bodies Have Exceeded Their Power Terms
The UN Special Envoy to Libya, Hanna Tetteh, said that all Libyan institutions—without exception—have exceeded their original mandates regarding legitimacy.
In a an interview published on the UN Mission’s website, Tetteh emphasized that what matters in Libya is ensuring that those in supervisory positions understand their responsibility to allow elections to take place.
She explained that elections require multiple elements to ensure their success. They are not an end in themselves but rather a means to achieve a goal—one that necessitates a stable government with a clear mandate and the trust of its people, thereby enabling it to make decisions on their behalf.
Tetteh reaffirmed that this can be achieved if there is political will, which she said is one of the key prerequisites for holding national elections. She pointed out that the core issue lies with the main political actors in leadership positions within the governing institutions, such as the House of Representatives and the High Council of State. She explained that there is a dispute over the presidency of the latter, which in turn affects the council’s effectiveness.
Tetteh indicated that actors in both the east and west may not see elections as being in their interest. She stressed the need for the UN mission to address their core concerns and to develop a roadmap that incorporates solutions so they can join the electoral path.
On the economic situation, Tetteh expressed the mission’s readiness to work with all parties to reach an agreement on a unified national budget. She called for organizing public financial management to ensure the delivery of social and public services that Libyan citizens expect, noting that the country has the resources needed to provide a comfortable standard of living for its people.
Tetteh reiterated that a political agreement is essential to move forward and to form a government with a popular mandate, capable of making key decisions, restructuring security institutions, strengthening public financial management, and fulfilling the aspirations of the Libyan people.
Regarding support from UN Security Council member states, Tetteh stressed the importance of international backing and said she looks forward to continuing work with them to implement the roadmap, which is hoped to lead to elections soon. She said that political stability to resolve the crisis must come through united efforts, enabling Libya to address its core issues and emerge as a much stronger partner.
She reaffirmed her commitment to working with Libyan stakeholders and the international community, including countries with interests in Libya’s political settlement, to serve as partners in achieving this goal.
