The Acting Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Koury, said on X that she had separate phone calls with Khalid Al-Mishri and Mohammed Takala – rivals for the presidency of the High Council of State (HCS).
Koury explained that the calls discussed the ongoing crisis surrounding the presidency of the High Council of State.
She said she had expressed her regret that the divisions within the HCS became entrenched, creating a significant barrier to its ability to fulfill its duties.
“I urged both parties to pursue a consensual solution, without prejudice to the outcome of the ongoing judicial process.” Koury added.
She said: “UNSMIL remains committed to engaging all stakeholders with the aim of preserving the unity and integrity of the HCS.”
The HCS has been witnessing an unprecedented crisis since last August regarding the eligibility of its presidency between Al-Mishri and Takala due to a controversy over a ballot paper of disputed validity, which prevented a decision to be made on the election result.
Takala, along with a number of the HCS members, held a session to re-elect the presidency members. He said the session had reached the quorum and he won the presidency of the HCS, while Al-Mishri rejected its outcomes for several reasons, the most important of which was the failure to achieve the quorum, indicating his adherence to the judicial path to resolve the dispute.
