Country: Kuwait
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: Libya
Delegate: Divya Reddy
School: Williamston High School
Beginning with the Arab Spring protests of 2011, Libya has been caught in an ongoing internal crisis. Since the protests and the fall of Muammar Gaddafi who was the de facto leader of Libya after the revolution, Libya has dealt with a civil war, a great deal of foreign military intervention, a decrease in available resources, and a large number of displaced citizens. Both the events of 2011 which resulted in the removal of Gaddafi and the 2nd civil war in 2014 led to a great deal of violence among Libyan citizens, as well as a great deal of instability in regards to the Libyan government and economy. Despite having the largest oil reserves of any African country, Libya is only producing a fraction of the amount it once was due to blockades set by rival groups and the general instability of the country. Since 2014, Libya has been governed by the General National Congress, however, Islamists began to exert greater control over the government which led to General Khalifa Haftar launched a major military offensive aimed against the Islamists, code-named Operation Dignity. The GNC then held new elections, but denied the recognition of the new House of Representatives, claiming it was controlled by Haftar loyalists. Haftar then retreated with the HoR to Tripoli and has control over that territory. Now thousands of Libyan citizens remain displaced without resources for survival, and Libya is left in political unrest. To end the civil war and return Libyan citizens to their rightful homes, Libya needs a new form of government that serves to unify the different parties and leaves no room for the corruption of power.
Kuwait ́s primary concern with the current Libya crisis is the amount of hostility taking place among Libyan citizens. The foreign ministry is calling upon Libyans to immediately cease hostilities in a bid to stop further bloodshed and stated that a political solution to the current crisis is the best means to secure Libya’s stability and maintain its sovereignty. Kuwait does particularly side with either Haftar or the GNC but urges all sides to resort to a political compromise as soon as possible to protect the safety of all Libyan citizens. Kuwait is also providing support to Libyan refugees located in southern Tunisia and other locations via the Kuwait Red Crescent.
Representative of Kuwait in the UN Security Council Mansour Al-Otabi further stated that Kuwait will spare no effort to ensure the unity of the council in halting anything that would disturb the unity of the Libyan people towards the achievement of security and moral stability under the political solution, and expressed this is the best way to work towards a compromise under Libyan leadership. Representative Al-Otabi also expressed that the preferred plan of action for Libya is to amend the former Libyan political agreement, organize a national conference, prepare for the elections and provide humanitarian assistance to the people in need. Kuwait also stressed that all Libyans need to comply with paragraph five of the Security Council resolution 2259 of 2015 which affirms rejection at all attempts of the political process carried out by Libya, as rebellion groups and more hostility are what fuel the current crisis.
- Divya Reddy
