Khoury discusses the outcomes of the structured dialogue with a group of young people in the Western Mountains.

Tripoli, November 11, 2026 (LANA) – Stephanie Khoury, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs, met with a group of young men and women from the Western Mountain region to discuss the outcomes of the "structured dialogue" and the agreement reached during the "mini-meeting." The discussion focused on the importance of advancing the political process, with the ultimate goals of unifying state institutions and holding national elections.

According to the UN mission, Khoury reviewed the progress made and the challenges encountered in implementing the political roadmap presented by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Hanna Tetteh, in August 2025.

She also discussed ongoing efforts to garner broader support for the "mini-meeting agreement" regarding the electoral framework, as well as strategies to overcome the current political stalemate. Khoury reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to supporting a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process.

Furthermore, she emphasized the necessity of a unified and independent judiciary, noting that the outcomes of the "structured dialogue" serve as a guide for addressing political, economic, and governance challenges in Libya.

The meeting, which included 24 young men and women from 18 different municipalities in the Western Mountain region, saw participants call for greater youth representation in political decision-making, expanded opportunities for women, and the strengthening of local governance, as reported by the UN mission.

The gathering included members of the "Mountain Youth Union," a youth-led initiative established in 2017 to foster cooperation and reconciliation among local communities. Participants emphasized the necessity of recognizing youth as partners in finding solutions to the political challenges facing Libya, rather than excluding them from decisions that shape their future.

Those in attendance discussed ways for youth to engage in the political process, calling for greater representation and highlighting the pivotal role they could play in achieving national reconciliation and breaking the current political stalemate.

Participants expressed their frustration with the repercussions of this deadlock and the slow progress toward a resolution, as well as the rising prices that place a heavy burden on families, alongside the challenges facing the health and education sectors.

According to the mission, the young women who participated underscored the importance of ensuring that women—including those from diverse cultural backgrounds—have genuine opportunities to contribute to political discussions, reconciliation processes, and decision-making. They urged the United Nations to provide more training and capacity-building programs to enhance women’s participation and leadership roles. The participants reaffirmed their readiness to work with the mission and other relevant national stakeholders to overcome divisions, foster engagement at the local level, and contribute to building a more stable and unified Libya.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) stated that it continues to engage with youth from across the country to ensure their voices are heard, their concerns regarding the political process are raised, and their needs are addressed.

...(LANA)...