Tripoli: The Head of the Presidential Council, Mohammed Al-Menfi, received the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Libya, Hanna Tetteh, in Tripoli on Tuesday, ahead of her scheduled briefing to the UN Security Council on Wednesday. The meeting focused on the latest political developments in Libya, with particular attention to the (4+4) Joint Military Commission established by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
According to Libyan News Agency, Al-Menfi expressed reservations regarding the foundations upon which the Commission was formed and its working mechanisms. He emphasized that any dialogue process or political arrangements, especially those related to the electoral process, must be based on a clear legal and constitutional framework that guarantees the integrity and legitimacy of the process. He pointed out that matters concerning the High National Elections Commission and electoral laws fall under the sovereign jurisdiction of the legislative institutions. It is impermissible, he noted, to involve parties outside the recognized institutional frameworks in addressing these matters, as this could disrupt the institutional balance.
Al-Menfi also highlighted the necessity to separate the UN-led process from any parallel tracks, adhering to the established frameworks governing the political process, notably the roadmap and the political agreement. He rejected any attempt to bypass the leadership of national institutions or circumvent their internal mechanisms when forming committees or determining representation. The head of the Presidential Council expressed his surprise at attempts to circumvent the outcomes of the 6+6 Joint Military Commission, despite the broad political acceptance and support it received. He considered that ignoring these outcomes could weaken the chances of consensus and further complicate the political landscape.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Al-Menfi emphasized that Libya stands at a critical juncture between establishing the rule of law and respecting institutions, and sliding towards imposing a fait accompli, with all the risks this entails for the stability of the state and the unity of its institutions.