Rabat – Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita hosted in Rabat today Jan Kubis, the UN Special Envoy in Libya, with the two diplomats discussing the future of the ongoing inter-Libyan dialogue and Morocco’s role in laying the groundwork for the UN-led political process.
Kubis’s first official visit to Morocco follows months of collaboration with the Moroccan FM and is an acknowledgement of Morocco’s continuous efforts to facilitate the resolution of the Libyan crisis.
The UN envoy expressed his deep appreciation for Morocco’s role in facilitating the ongoing – and promising – inter-Libyan dialogue saying the North African country has been “a strong partner in support of the political processes, and an element of stability in the broader region.”
Kubis, who was appointed head of the Support Mission in Libya in January 2021,, previously served as the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon.
Libya has remained unstable since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Although much progress has since been made on the peacemaking front thanks to key players such as Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, most experts agree that there is still a long distance to travel to end the country’s decade-long post-Gaddafi cycle of unrest.
During discussions with Bourita, Kubis echoed Morocco’s position on the Libyan political process when he reiterated the UN’s commitment to the success of the war-torn country’s political transition.
“Through the upcoming elections scheduled for December 24,” he stated, “Libya will get the new institutions, and will undergo reform on the political, military and administrative levels” that will help further stabilize the region.
He also spoke about the importance of holding the election on the scheduled date, saying that “failure to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya on Dec. 24 could renew conflict and cripple efforts to unite the country after a decade of turmoil.”
On the Moroccan involvement in the resolution of the Libyan crisis, Kubis stated that “the kingdom’s contribution is very deep,” adding: “I can confirm we see eye to eye, we will be building on these achievements to help Libya to true stability through a democratic process.”
For his part, Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita reiterated both Rabat’s support for the Libyan people and its commitment to the UN-led political process to end Libya’s decade-long political gridlock.
Morocco’s “humble contribution” to the peace dialogues has always followed the UN’s guidelines, Bourita argued, adding that the country considers “UN directives a strategic umbrella to unify and coordinate global efforts to end the Libyan crisis.”
The Moroccan top diplomat also reaffirmed Morocco’s opposition to any “ foreign interference or intervention” in the Libyan crisis.
Kubis appeared to concur, as he concluded by emphasizing that the UN’s stance is also that military intervention will only exacerbate Libya’s prolonged crisis. Like Bourita, he stressed “the necessity of elections as the only viable solution” to the Libyan conflict.
The main issue within Libya today is that of legitimacy, the UN envoy suggested, arguing that this “can only be solved through a democratic election.”
