18 hours ago
Libyan figures urge UN to back constituent council proposal
A coalition of 223 prominent Libyan citizens—comprising politicians, activists, and civil society leaders—has formally called on Hanna Tetteh, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative in Libya, to endorse a proposal for establishing a Constituent Council.
This proposal, known as 'Proposal Four,' was developed by an advisory panel appointed by the UN Support Mission in Libya. It calls for the formation of a new executive body to oversee constitutional reform and electoral preparation, effectively replacing the current political institutions.
In an open letter, the signatories noted an intensifying public outcry, with widespread street protests rejecting the status quo. They assert that existing institutions are responsible for Libya's stagnation and ongoing humanitarian challenges.
They propose that the Constituent Council be formed through a Political Dialogue Committee, as specified in Article 64 of the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement. The committee should elect 60 members of the council based on integrity, competency, and fair representation of all Libyan communities.
Importantly, the authors emphasize that anyone who has held legislative or executive positions in recent transitional governments should be excluded.
The group describes the new path as 'a historic opportunity' to rebuild trust between the Libyan people and state institutions. It urges all stakeholders—from civil groups and political parties to youth movements and international partners—to unite behind this initiative and rise above narrow partisan interests.
They describe Proposal Four as potentially Libya's last chance to break free from the cycle of failed transitions, and call on the UN to convene the Political Dialogue Committee promptly to select its members.
