United Nations, New York – Algeria reiterated its unwavering commitment to Libya’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity during a session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday. The Algerian delegation emphasized the nation’s support for a comprehensive, Libyan-led political process, facilitated by the United Nations, aimed at achieving a definitive resolution to the ongoing crisis in the country.
Speaking at the Security Council meeting concerning the situation in Libya, Magd Eddine Samir Boussahil, a member of Algeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, stated, “Algeria affirms its steadfast commitment to respecting Libya’s independence, sovereignty, and unity, both in terms of its people and its territory. We firmly support an inclusive, Libyan-Libyan political process under the auspices of the United Nations, with the goal of reaching a final and comprehensive solution to the crisis in our sister nation.”
Mr. Boussahil further emphasized that achieving justice in Libya “remains a legitimate national demand and an inherent right that is not subject to debate or compromise. It is not a fleeting whim or a temporary situation dictated by external considerations.”
In this context, the Algerian diplomat explained that the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the situation in Libya “must be exercised within the framework of the principle of complementarity with national judicial authorities, not on the basis of excluding or replacing them.” He stressed the need to “focus efforts on strengthening cooperation and coordination between the Libyan judicial authorities, who have original jurisdiction, and the International Criminal Court, in order to ensure the investigation of various crimes and violations and guarantee a fair and transparent trial.”
Algeria, he noted, “acknowledges the Libyan government’s decision to voluntarily accept the jurisdiction of the Court, a decision that reflects the commitment of the highest authorities in Libya to uphold justice and enhance accountability for crimes and violations.” Algeria also commended the “positive cooperation between the Libyan authorities and the International Criminal Court, which will accelerate the pace of ongoing investigations in preparation for their closure as soon as possible.”
In the same vein, Algeria “emphasizes the need for the international community, foremost among them the United Nations, to fulfill its responsibilities in supporting the justice sector in Libya by intensifying training programs, capacity building, and the transfer of expertise, enabling this sector to perform its functions effectively, as it is the holder of original and inherent judicial jurisdiction.”
Boussahil highlighted that the ICC’s jurisdiction in Libya “should not be limited to prosecuting local elements involved in various crimes, but should extend to include external parties whose involvement is proven.”DZWatch will continue to monitor developments in Libya and Algeria’s diplomatic efforts.
