ZINTAN / MISRATA – Mayors, municipal council leaders, youth, community representatives, and elected and military officials in Zintan and Misrata were among the first to put forward their thoughts on the Advisory Committee’s recommendations and options in public discussions held on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

As part of a series of community consultations which will take place across the county, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Stephanie Koury, went to Zintan on Wednesday. The following day she joined the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Hanna Tetteh, in Misrata city. Across the two days, UNSMIL met with tens of community representatives and heard their concerns and ideas about developing a consensual roadmap for the way forward to elections.

“The price paid by Libyans across the country from continued political deadlock has been too high,” said SRSG Tetteh. “The Advisory Committee has now finished, and their recommendations are public. It is now that the real work begins to find a way forward for an inclusive political process,” she added.

The meetings were the start of series of community engagements that be held online and in towns and cities across the country by the Mission to gather the views of a wide range of people, including community leaders, notables, youth, women, cultural components those with disabilities, military leaders and elected officials. More information about how individuals can put forward their thoughts and ideas will be released in the coming weeks.

In Zintan, DSRSG-P Koury met with recently elected mayor Al Taher Musbah Abou Jnah, and municipal council members, notables, member of the House of Representatives and High Council of State, General Osama Jweily and civil society representatives and youth.

In Misrata, SRSG Tetteh and DSRSG-P Koury met with the mayor Mahmoud Al Soqatri, municipal council officials, House of Representative and High Council of State members, civil society representatives, youth and the Military Zone Commander of the Central Zone and member of the Truce Committee, Lieutenant General Mohamed Musa.

Discussions across all meetings focused extensively on the recent clashes in Tripoli and their potential implication for stability in the western region. Participants emphasized the urgent need for political, social and economic inclusivity, and the need to implement robust ceasefire and security arrangements. Youth continually stressed the need for their voices to be heard in decision-making and to be part of the political process.

“We came to Misrata and Zintan to listen,” said the SRSG. “UNSMIL remains committed to consulting with as many Libyans as possible so that we can all develop a roadmap that would lead to national elections and unified institutions. Everyone should feel they can put their voice forward and engage with us when we launch the campaign shortly.”