Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? Mohamed Menfi was chosen to lead the Presidency Council; the remaining two members of the council are Musa al-Koni, the GNAs former deputy prime minister, and Abdullah al-Lafi. The national judicial system has essentially collapsed, with courts unable to function in much of the country. Against the backdrop of the U.N.-led talks in Cairo, the conflict in Libya continues to simmer. Young people have borne the brunt of the regions chronic development challenges, making them vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups and criminal networks. This report covered developments in Libya between 25 August 2021 and 17 January 2022. In September 2021, 113 members of the HoR passed a vote of no confidence against the GNU; the HCS condemned the no-confidence measure, and some parliamentary sources claimed a no-confidence vote must be passed by 120 members, and was therefore illegitimate. Jalel Harchaoui: In late April, President Tebboune departed from his usual diplomatic prudence by explicitly declaring Algerias recognition of Dbeibah until elections are held in Libya. The House of Representatives based their appointment of Bashagha, and his mandate to form a new government, on the GNUs failure to hold elections as planned. Karim Mezran: Algeria has not played a role nearly as relevant as it should have given its proximity and strategic interests in Libya. In December, the HoR passed and immediately enacted a law allowing the body to reshuffle members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC); the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned the HoRs actions as an attack on judiciary independence and the rule of law. The political impasse and armed conflict prevented all segments of the population from exercising their basic political rights. The political crisis also reverberated within the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC)which consists of five representatives each from the former Government of National Accord (GNA) and from the LNA and is entrusted with overseeing the implementation of the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement. In October 2020, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) facilitated the first round of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF). An August 2011 constitutional declaration, issued by an unelected National Transitional Council, continues to serve as the key governing document for the transitional period. Representatives of the GNU and the House of Representatives have since engaged with protesters to end the blockade and resume oil production. The role of the judiciary remains unclear without a permanent constitution, and judges, lawyers, and prosecutors face frequent threats and attacks. Global freedom statuses are calculated on a weighted scale. Following the postponements of the December elections, the HoR announced that it no longer recognized the legitimacy of the GNU, though the UN continued to recognize the GNUs mandate. On 29 April, the Council adopted resolution 2629, renewing UNSMILs mandate for three months, until 31 July.

Last month, Dbeibah fired his chief of military intelligence, Osama al-Juwaili, amid claims that al-Juwaili had mobilized his military forces without Dbeibahs consent, presenting a threat to a number of citizens from the capital. Its unclear if al-Juwaili was acting in concert with Bashagha as some have claimed but there is speculation that the split between Juwaili and Dbeibah could force a realignment of powerful militias, potentially bolstering the influence of warlord Khalifa Haftar. Conditions were further affected by the presence of various armed groups, thousands of foreign mercenaries, a large migrant population, and mass internal displacement. Web development: Michael Murphy, Publications on country-specific and regional issues in the Council, Council thematic and structural issues and peace making, keeping and building, Background information on the Council, its subsidiary bodies and activities, In Hindsight: Challenging the Power of the Veto. Tuesday, June 14, 2022 They should be a cornerstone of any political agreement and therefore need to be addressed in the political process by determining which competencies and budgets remain at the central level and which are decentralized. This week in Cairo, the United Nations will host the final round of scheduled talks between representatives from Libyas two opposing governments: the House of Representatives (HoR) based in the eastern city of Tobruk and the High Council of State (HCS) based in the western city of Tripoli. This presidential statement welcomed the Paris International Conference and the Libya Stabilisation conference; expressed support for the parliamentary and presidential elections set to take place on 24 December; underlined the importance of an inclusive and consultative electoral process; and urged Libyan stakeholders to commit to accepting the election results. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? Blog, The United States Institute of Peace Legal and Privacy Information | FOIA Inquiries, tried unsuccessfully to take over Tripoli, The New U.S. Plan to Stabilize Conflicts: The Case of Libya, Young and Angry in Fezzan: Achieving Stability in Southern Libya through Greater Economic Opportunity, As Libya Tries Peace, a Saharan City Builds It, Putins trip to Iran shows Russias desperation, says U.S. Institute of Peace - CNBC, Zelensky's challenges as his fate plays out on battlefield - Agence France Presse, Former ambassador: Ukrainians "happy" their first lady is visiting Washington and addressing Congress - CBS News, Amb. The need for decentralization is a point of consensus across the political spectrum, but there is disagreement over the extent of that decentralization and no clarity over the future shape of the state. Traffickers have taken advantage of civil unrest to establish enterprises in which refugees and migrants are loaded into overcrowded boats that are then abandoned in the Mediterranean Sea, where passengers hope to be rescued and taken to Europe. However, following prolonged debates over the legal and constitutional basis for the elections and disputes over candidate eligibility, the High National Election Commission (HNEC), announced the postponement of the elections. In the years since, Turkey has expanded its influence in large parts of western Libya and acquired the capacity to play a role in the East thereby minimizing any potential role for Algeria. Yet I wouldnt speak of a tight coordination between Algiers and Ankara, though. That being said, if conflict erupts in Libya and the pro-Dbeibah war effort turns out to be massive (a distinct possibility), it may receive greater support from Algerias armed forces. There are no laws that specifically address or criminalize domestic violence, and most such violence goes unreported due to social stigma and the risk of reprisals. As the week of talks ended without an agreement, Williams released a statement announcing that the joint committee would reconvene after the Eid al-Fitr holiday to continue its consultations. Forced labor, sexual exploitation, abuse in detention facilities, and starvation are widespread among migrants and refugees from sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, many of whom are beholden to human traffickers. One name that Ive heard mentioned as her replacement is the former Tunisian minister of foreign affairs, Khemaies Jhinaoui. relating to Libya and referred to in Security Council Report publications, Security Council Report Russia, on the other hand, has repeatedly called for the Secretary-General quickly to appoint a new head of UNSMIL, saying that the prospective candidate should be acceptable to Libyans, regional stakeholders and the Council. This resolution renewed UNSMILs mandate until 15 September 2021; it was adopted with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions (China and Russia). Search for experts, projects, publications, courses, and more. This was a letter submitted to the Council by Germany, France, Italy and Libya transmitting the declaration of the 12 November 2021 Paris Conference on Libya. One of the failings of the last 10 years is that these issues have not meaningfully been debated. The GNU was tasked with overseeing the presidential and parliamentary elections that had been set for December. How to reinstate the functionality of the JMC and prevent a return to civil war is a key issue for Council members and the wider international community. Repeated peace efforts have failed to help Libyans form a unified national government, yet Libyans continue to show the capacity to overcome communal divisions and build peace at local levels. Furthermore, the Algerians are of the opinion that any effort to help install Bashagha in Tripoli would destabilize all of western Libya. As the political situation in Libya grows more complex, the search continues for a Special Envoyand subsequently a Special Representativeto lead the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Several Council membersincluding France, the UK and the UShave in the past expressed support for Williams and her initiatives on the ground. But it is not clear what degree of support Paris has provided to the Zeidan-Seif al Nasr organized meeting. I think its an open question if her replacement will have the trust of the parties and the leverage to continue to make progress. Another key issue is whether instability in Libya may further accelerate migration from and through Libya, mainly towards Europe, and the flow of arms and fighters across north Africa. Libyan coast guard forces, which receive support from European governments, work to block such departures and have reportedly abused and exploited the passengers they intercept. Tim Eaton: Nothing meaningful. Judges and lawyers are frequently subjected to immense pressure from armed groups. This was the letter from the Secretary-General transmitting the strategic review of UNSMIL. That the Fezzan organizes itself may not be a bad thing given the neglect it has suffered, although this meeting would appear to be more along the lines of traditional patronage relationships. Ordinary citizens have no role in Libyas political affairs, which are currently dominated by armed factions, foreign governments, oil interests, smuggling syndicates, and other extrapolitical forces. The strengthening of this relationship could help protect the Turkeys western flank if it were to be seriously involved in an armed confrontation with Haftars troops, but collaboration would be limited and certainly less influential to the overall conflict than an alliance between Turkey and Egypt, for example. During the upcoming meeting, Council members could consider adopting a presidential statement to send a united message of support to the ongoing UN mediation efforts and reaffirm support to Libya on its path towards elections. There are few if any doubts that a strong Algeria would have not allowed Egypt and the UAE to play such an important role through their proxy Khalifa Haftar. International efforts to bring rival administrations together in a unity government succeeded in early 2021, creating a fragile peace. The shutdown followed a March dip in oil production and is said to have had a negative impact on Libyas ability to bridge global supply gaps and capitalise on the current price spike in the global energy market. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? But the old market was forced to close during a three-year surge in fighting between the areas ethnic Tebu and Tuareg communities. The negotiations in Cairo resulted in agreement on over 137 articles of the draft constitution. The corporation also warned of its impending inability to service the local market, and in a 22 April press release, cautioned that the shutdown of production at the coastal city of Sirte will have implications for the stability of the public electricity network, especially in the eastern regions. Widows and displaced women in particular are vulnerable to economic deprivation and other abuses.