United Nations published this video item, entitled “Libya, Mali, Dr. Martin Luther King Day & other topics – Daily Briefing (18 January 2021)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Libya
– Central African Republic
– Mali
– The Sahel
– Burkina Faso
– Yemen
– Sudan
– Palestine
– Secretary-General/Group Of 77
– Covid-19/ Brazil
– Dr. Martin Luther King Day
– Noon Briefing Guests Tomorrow
– Honour Roll
LIBYA
The Secretary-General is appointing Ján Kubiš of Slovakia as his Special Envoy on Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
The Secretary-General is grateful for the commitment and outstanding leadership of the Acting Special Representative Stephanie T. Williams of the United States in moving the political process forward in Libya.
Mr. Kubiš has served as the Special Coordinator for the UN Lebanon since 2019. He also led the UN mission in Iraq, and he brings with him many years of experience in diplomacy, foreign security policy, and international economic relations, both internationally and in at home in Slovakia.
Mr. Kubiš will take up his function in early February. Ms. Williams will continue as Acting Special Representative through January to ensure a smooth transition.
The Secretary-General commends the Advisory Committee of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum for its constructive discussions during its meeting in Geneva, that took place from the 13th to the 16th of January. The Secretary-General commends in particular the decisive role played by women representatives and the Southern members to forge a consensus on a recommended mechanism for the selection of the executive authority, in accordance with the Roadmap adopted in Tunis last November.
The Secretary-General calls on the members of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum to participate constructively in the vote on the selection mechanism and press ahead on the path to national elections on the 24th of December this year.
He reiterates the support of the UN to the Libyan people for their efforts to advance peace and stability.
Stephanie Williams also told the press on Saturday that she was pleased that the Advisory Committee members had risen to the occasion. They met their responsibility with a constructive spirit, cooperative efforts, and a great deal of patriotism, she said. She congratulated them on reaching an agreement on a recommended selection mechanism, which is being voted on today. They have taken a decisive step towards meeting the goals that were set in Tunis, she added.
And yesterday, on Sunday, Ms. Williams logged in to a virtual chat with 1,000 Libyans, the majority of whom hailed from all regions of the country.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
In the Central African Republic, two United Nations peacekeepers lost their lives today.
This happened on the Bangassou-Gambo axis, after peacekeepers came under fire. More details will be available shortly, including a statement from the Secretary-General.
The Mission also reported in a statement that combatants have left the city of Bangassou, in Mbomou prefecture, on Friday and that UN peacekeepers are now fully in control of that city. The Mission also reports that it escorted a convoy of 30 commercial vehicles from Bangui to the border with Cameroon yesterday; that’s the first since the free movement of vehicles was halted on 19 December due to the security situation along that route.
And finally, the Constitutional Court in Bangui confirmed President Touadéra’s victory in the presidential elections, that were held on the 27th December. We expect a joint statement from the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African States and the European Union on this issue shortly.
MALI
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Head of Peace Operations, has arrived in Mali yesterday and will be there until Thursday.
You will have seen that the Secretary-General strongly condemned another attack against a UN convoy in the country. That attack took place on Friday, near Tessalit in the Kidal region. It resulted in the death of one Egyptian peacekeeper and serious injuries to another.
The Secretary-General expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family, as well as to the people and Government of Egypt. He wishes a speedy and full recovery to the injured peacekeeper.
He added that the UN will spare no efforts in supporting the Malian authorities in identifying and promptly bringing to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack.
Between the events in the Central African Republic and Mali in the last week, the UN has lost 9 peacekeepers, killed in hostile incidents.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=18%20January%202021
United Nations YouTube Channel
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