
The sudden resignation of Abdoulaye Bathily, the United Nations special envoy for Libya, has highlighted the ongoing failure of reconciliation efforts in the war-torn North African nation, according to analysts speaking to AFP.
Bathily, a Senegalese diplomat who stepped down after just 18 months at the helm of the UN support mission UNSMIL, has repeatedly criticized rival leaders for perpetuating divisions to advance their own interests.
Libya continues to grapple with the aftermath of years of conflict and instability following the overthrow of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with the country divided between a UN-recognized government based in Tripoli and a competing administration in the east.
During a press briefing after tendering his resignation to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Bathily noted a recent deterioration in the situation.
He singled out the lack of political will and good faith among major Libyan actors, accusing them of being content with the current deadlock.
General elections initially slated for December 2021 were indefinitely postponed due to ongoing disagreements between Abdelhamid Dbeibah’s government in Tripoli and the eastern-based administration supported by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
Bathily criticized the selfish resolve of current leaders to maintain the status quo at the expense of the Libyan people, calling for an end to delaying tactics and maneuvers. He also condemned the foreign backers of both factions, though he did not specifically name them.
According to Jalel Harchaoui, an associate fellow at the British think-tank Royal United Services Institute, Bathily’s resignation was not unexpected given that the process he was leading had been defunct for several months.
The resignation of Bathily underscores the challenges facing efforts to bring stability and unity to Libya, as rival factions continue to prioritize their own interests over the welfare of the Libyan people.
The international community, including the United Nations, faces an uphill battle in facilitating meaningful dialogue and cooperation among the warring parties. As Libya remains mired in political deadlock and insecurity, the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict appear increasingly uncertain.