Zainab Al-Zaidi, member of the Constitutional Drafting Assembly, described Libya’s annual political and economic record as “painful,” citing the persistence of deep divisions that continue to obstruct the path toward state-building.
She stressed in remarks to Al-Manassa that each passing year brings fresh disappointments for Libyans, as the United Nations—entrusted with shepherding the process—has instead prolonged the crisis. Since 2014, she argued, the country has been trapped in endless rounds of dialogue, each rebranded with a new title: from the Skhirat talks to Geneva, the advisory committee’s “four options,” and most recently the so-called “structured dialogue.”
According to Al-Zaidi, these UN-sponsored negotiations recycle the same details and consistently yield “very poor outcomes.” Rather than progress, Libya faces worsening political rifts and an acute economic crisis that touches every level of society.
She accused the UN mission of belittling Libyans and undermining the state-building process for the past 14 years, questioning where the organization intends to lead the country.
Al-Zaidi urged the mission to respect the will of the people, who elected a body that drafted a constitution but were denied the chance to vote on it. She further criticized the committees selected by the UN, saying they are chosen according to its own criteria and imposed on Libyans, a practice she described as a direct assault on democratic principles.
