https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / News / All News RSS ← Back
Consulting|SECURITY
Consulting|SECURITY
consulting-company|security
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Article Enquiry

UN Libya envoy urges UN to blacklist anyone who obstructs peace talks

Close

Embed Video

UN Libya envoy urges UN to blacklist anyone who obstructs peace talks

20th November 2020

By: Reuters

SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

The acting United Nations (UN) Libya envoy pressed the UN Security Council on Thursday to blacklist anyone who obstructs peace efforts after the warring parties agreed a ceasefire and Libyan participants in political talks set a date for elections.

The 15-member Security Council is able to impose an asset freeze or travel ban on individuals or entities.

Advertisement

"This council has tools at its disposal including to prevent obstructionists from jeopardizing this rare opportunity to restore peace in Libya. I call on you to use them," acting UN Libya envoy Stephanie Williams told the council.

Last month the two major sides in the country's war - the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and Khalifa Haftar's eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) - agreed a ceasefire and Libyan participants in political talks last week set December 24, 2021 as the date for elections.

Advertisement

"The council is ready to support the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum will all the tools at its disposal, including sanctions against any spoilers," said a Security Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Williams said that despite some progress in implementing the announced ceasefire, neither side had yet withdrawn from the frontlines as agreed and cargo flights were still arriving at air bases controlled by both.

Turkey backs the GNA. Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt support the LNA. Those foreign powers have been cited in earlier UN documents as supplying weapons in defiance of the arms embargo.

Libya descended into chaos after the NATO-backed overthrow of leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

US Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, said on Thursday the United States, Britain, Germany and Estonia had proposed the council's Libya sanctions committee blacklist "some of the most egregious abusers of human rights in Libya, including Mohammed al-Kani and the Kaniyat militia."

If no countries on the 15-member committee raise any objections by tomorrow, then the targeted sanctions will be imposed, diplomats said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hopes to appoint current UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov as the new Libya envoy to replace Ghassan Salame, who quit in March due to stress.

But the Security Council has not yet given the green light as diplomats said some members would instead like an African to be appointed. 

"Nickolay Mladenov is the right choice for this role. We look forward to consulting with the Secretary-General and this Council on potential African candidates for the UNSMIL Coordinator position," Craft told the council.

UNSMIL is the U.N political mission in Libya

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now