Assalamu Alaikum
Distinguished members of the Structured Dialogue,
I warmly welcome you to the inaugural meeting of the Structured Dialogue and thank you for accepting to be part of this important national endeavor. I am happy we were able to convene here in Tripoli, as it is important that discussions about Libya can take place inside Libya.
Guided by Security Council resolution 2796 (2025), the Structured Dialogue is a central pillar of the UNSMIL-facilitated roadmap which I announced to the Libyan public and to the Security Council on 21 August 2025. The Structured Dialogue provides an inclusive platform through which broader segments of Libyan society can participate and contribute to shaping the national agenda and your country’s future.
I am pleased to be joined here today with diverse group of 124 dedicated Libyans from across the country – 81 men, 43 women and 13 youth – as well as representatives of cultural and linguistic components, and persons with disabilities, without whose voice we cannot adequately reflect the views of Libyan society. The composition of this group reflects the rich diversity of Libya, with every person bringing his/her own unique experience and perspectives on governance, economy, security, and/or reconciliation and human rights.
This distinguished group of individuals, of which the women represent approx.35 (34.6) %, was selected based on an elaborate process that began with UNSMIL soliciting nominations from a number of institutions including municipalities, political parties, universities, national technical and security institutions, and cultural and other specialized entities and societal groups. In addition, UNSMIL received more than a thousand voluntary nominations from interested individuals. From these pools of candidates and our existing networks, we have brought together this august group of individuals, chosen for their subject matter expertise, ability to bridge differences and build consensus, and putting national interests above his/her own.
We acknowledge that not all the Libyans who wanted to take part and have talents were included in the room – as we all know that Libya has so much more to offer than that can fit into the group of 124. To them, I say please stay involved. Please go to the UNSMIL website, get involved and put your voices and ideas forward, engage in polling and digital discussions with us, as this process is as much for you as it is for those around the table. We also acknowledge there were also others who were not able to participate due to political circumstances. We hope that, should the circumstances change, we are still able to accommodate them in the Dialogue.
So, let me first start by explaining, from UNSMIL’s perspective, and as welcomed by the Security Council, why we thought it was important to hold a Structured Dialogue.
Lifting the voices of the Libyan people is one of the core objectives underpinning UNSMIL-facilitated political process. This is out of our conviction that for any political process to succeed, it needs to be shaped by Libyans themselves, their aspirations and views. This point is also echoed in the successive Security Council resolutions which have emphasized a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned, and I stress the word inclusive, political process, facilitated by UNSMIL.
This is also why earlier this year, faced with a bottleneck over the electoral laws, UNSMIL formed an Advisory Committee composed of 20 well-respected Libyan experts, representing diverse backgrounds but united in their national outlook and patriotic duty, to advise us on how we can overcome the contentious issues in the electoral framework.
The report of the Advisory Committee and the recommendations were then made public and used as a basis for UNSMIL’s national wide consultations – both in person, virtually, and through online surveys - which served to shape the UNSMIL-facilitated roadmap that I announced to the Libyan public and to the Security Council. The process we took was to ensure that our roadmap is a Libyan roadmap, based on your priorities.
The Structured Dialogue is our response to the demand by an overwhelming number of Libyans whom we met in the course of these consultations, who wanted to see a more inclusive political process where ordinary Libyans are involved and have their voices heard and listened to. This Dialogue is to serve as a safe platform for the broader segments of Libyan society to project a united voice on the future direction of your country.
Distinguished members of the Structured Dialogue,
The Structured Dialogue is facilitated and supported by UNSMIL, but it is fundamentally a space for Libyan-Libyan dialogue. The Mission is providing the platform, the framework, the structure, and logistical and substantive support to kick start the discussion. But the discussion itself, and more importantly, its outcome – rests with you, the participants gathered in this room today and all Libyans who participate in through other channels which we will make available.
The Dialogue will be divided into the following four themes and will meet sequentially over the course of the next four to six months period, starting in January 2026. The themes are:
- Governance
- Economy
- Security
- National Reconciliation and Human Rights
The purpose of the Dialogue is to develop a set of (1) concrete recommendations on immediate policy and governance issues to prepare a conducive environment for elections, and (2) policy and legislative proposals to address long-term conflict drivers with a view to formulating a unified national vision that will shape the path to stability.
The Dialogue will be timebound and results oriented, and allow Libyans from all walks of life to have an in-depth discussion about the current status of the country and its future trajectory.
As we embarked on the preparation process for this Structured Dialogue, we were inspired by the overwhelming number of Libyans who expressed an interest to join and contribute to the process. And I know that there are many who are not in the room today who want to be part of the process and we will find the way to include as many as possible. We, as UNSMIL, are committed to creating opportunities to involve the wider public throughout this process – beyond those in this room –as this will only make the outcome of the Structured Dialogue stronger.
A Women’s Caucus has been established to accompany and enable Structured Dialogue members to consult with women across Libya – and Libyan women have also developed their own Charter, with priorities and recommendations, on the four themes of the Structured Dialogue.
A digital youth platform has been set up to promote active youth participation beyond those sitting at the table, and make sure that their views and aspirations back into the discussions. Youth from across Libya can join, share their views, and hold their youth representatives to account.
Persons with disabilities are also being consulted to ensure that their priorities are duly reflected. The UN in Libya recently facilitated a discussion which resulted in a set of recommendations along the four themes.
Regular digital dialogues and online surveys and other meetings will be recurring features throughout the Structured Dialogue process for us to feed inputs back into the discussions. The livestreaming of parts of today’s deliberations is to ensure that Libyan public has the same level of information to partake in the discussions, even if they are not in this room.
True to UN principles, the Structured Dialogue will be as transparent and inclusive as a way to generate a national debate, while preserving the safe space for Structured Dialogue participants to have an honest, open and constructive discussion.
We are also not starting the process from scratch. There are number of commendable Libyan efforts and processes that have contributed to advancing some of the topics we will be discussing in the Structured Dialogue. We are committed to building on these efforts, and intend to tap into other Libyan experts as resource persons throughout the process.
To facilitate the discussions in the Structured Dialogue, UNSMIL launched an online survey in November and undertook two rounds of digital and zoom dialogues to hear from the Libyans what they would like this process to address. We will share and go through in more detail the outcomes of these surveys later today.
Distinguished members of the Structured Dialogue,
The Security Council in successive resolutions has reaffirmed its support for a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process, and UNSMIL’s mandate is clear—to help create conditions for credible elections, unify institutions, and advance national reconciliation. The Structured Dialogue is central to this effort.
In this process of consultation and dialogue, we hope that the outcomes will help to improve the state of governance and create the foundations for enhancing peace and stability. In any country where there is a UN political or peacekeeping mission there is also implicit the opinion of the international community, that if there was not the presence of a mission the political and security conditions that prevail in the country could have significant consequences not just for the country, but for international peace and security and especially the security of its neighbors and the broader region.
To overcome this situation there would need to be a government that exercises authority over the country and is capable of maintaining peace and stability, at and within, its borders. Peace and stability is not only achieved by the use of force but also by governing in a manner that prioritizes the best interests of citizens and those who live within the borders of the coumtry by managing the country’s financial resources prudently, delivering the necessary public goods and services, and seeking to promote the development of the country. Additionally, such a government is expected to protect the interests of all of its citizens, and all who reside within its borders, with respect for their human rights. Finally, in a connected global environment such a government is also expected to act taking into consideration the implications of its actions or inactions on its neighboring countries and the international community as a whole.
This dialogue presents those of you here today, and those who will participate online and in the subsequent activities that will be organized, to contribute the to ideas that would help to strengthen governance in Libya, and facilitate a return to greater stability and prosperity, as a peaceful, prosperous and strong Libya has an important role to play in the rest of the world. Therefore we would encourage you to be focused and pragmatic in developing your recommendations and take into consideration what needs to be done by Libyans with the support of the international community to achieve the desired outcomes.
Despite the increased division and polarization in the country, from what we have seen and heard we know that the voices from the people are still united in wanting to see the country turn over a new leaf and get the country out of endless cycles of transition. There is unity in wanting to see a unified country, with its sovereignty and territorial integrity upheld, where Libyans can choose and hold their leaders accountable through elections and where pressing economic, security and social needs are addressed through accountable governance. The collective strength of united voices possesses a power to inspire change and shape the future.
It is my hope that through our discussions over the next few months, we can bring out these elements that unite Libyan society to the forefront, and chart forward concrete steps in which we can move the discussion forward.
Before I conclude, let me reiterate that the safety and security of participants are of paramount importance to us. The code of conduct, which you have already committed to abide by, and which we will shortly sign collectively, clearly articulates that any behavior that goes counter to this code may result in requesting you to leave the Structured Dialogue. A safe, respectful and inclusive environment that enables your meaningful participation without fear of retaliation is central to building a Libya where everyone can contribute equally to peace, stability, and the future of this country.
Let me also in closing express my appreciation for your willingness and readiness to contribute. Your personal leadership, your commitment and your integrity as the Dialogue progresses cannot be underestimated. I want to emphasize your role is critical , and I personally but also my team, look forward to working closely with you over the next months.
I would like to acknowledge the presence of Ambassadors and representatives from the countries comprising International Follow Up Committee on Libya. Their presence here today is a sign of their support to your endeavor. I also would like to thank the donors whose contribution supported the logistical arrangements for today’s launch.
Thank you all very much
May God bless us all and this activity.