UN Envoy Hanna Tetteh extended her congratulations to the Libyan people on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, noting that economic pressures are weighing heavily on citizens in their daily lives, increasing the burden on families, and overshadowing the atmosphere of joy and solidarity that should accompany this occasion.

In a statement released by the mission on Tuesday, Teteh said: “We are confident that when the outcomes of the structured dialogue are released soon, they will be treated in good faith as an effort aimed at developing a positive vision for peace, prosperity, and development in Libya.”

She called for Eid al-Adha to be a turning point toward peace, reconciliation, and renewed hope throughout the country. She emphasized that this occasion comes as Libyans suffer from “difficult living conditions, amid a continuing political stalemate and institutional division.”

The Need to End the Suffering of Arbitrarily Detained Persons

She stressed the urgent need to address human rights conditions across the country, “and although some progress has been made regarding the issue of arbitrary arrests and detentions, much remains to be done to protect the innocent, achieve justice, and end the suffering of those arbitrarily detained.”

She affirmed that the mission is concerned about the painful and unresolved issue of the missing, adding that the suffering of their families, who are enduring a harrowing state of waiting and uncertainty, must end.

Calls for the Release of All the Disappeared

Tetteh called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those forcibly disappeared and arbitrarily detained, considering this an essential step toward reconciliation, the restoration of dignity, the achievement of justice, and the promotion of community trust.

She noted that the profound sacrifices made by the Libyan people over the past years must be met with responsible leadership that places the interests of citizens, in all their diversity, at the heart of its priorities. The authorities must act swiftly and decisively to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people.

She called on all leaders to break the current deadlock and engage seriously to ensure Libyans’ right to choose their leadership and to facilitate the establishment of a government that derives its legitimacy from the will of the people and works for the citizens.

Tetteh also called for a focus on implementing projects and programs that directly address the needs expressed by the population, and for supporting officials in newly elected municipalities across the country, enabling them to meet citizens’ expectations for effective and reliable public services.