Abdoulaye Bathily addressed the U.N. Security Council, underscoring that the prevailing political divisions in Libya “are fraught with risks of violence and disintegration for countries.” He appealed to the rival factions within the country to resolve all issues related to upcoming elections, a critical step that has been delayed for a significant duration, reports the AP.

“It is fundamental to restore Libya’s stability, to preserve regional security,” he emphasized. “Without an inclusive political agreement that paves the way for peaceful, inclusive and transparent elections across Libya, the situation will worsen and cause further suffering to the Libyan people.”

Libya’s descent into chaos stemmed from the NATO-backed uprising that ousted and killed long-standing dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. This turmoil led to a division of the nation, with competing administrations in the east and west supported by rogue militias and foreign entities.

The current political crisis revolves around the failure to conduct elections as planned on December 24, 2021, and Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s refusal to step down from his position leading the transitional government in Tripoli. In response, the parliament based in Libya’s eastern region appointed a rival prime minister, Fathy Bashagha, though he was suspended in May. The influential commander Khalifa Hifter maintains control in the eastern part of the country.

Bathily expressed optimism that ongoing discussions aimed at amending election laws to address gaps, inconsistencies, and technical hurdles can be concluded in the coming weeks. The U.N. is actively collaborating with all parties to secure a comprehensive political agreement concerning matters related to a new government, ensuring security, and creating a level playing field for all election candidates.

Although unable to pinpoint an exact date, Bathily conveyed optimism that the envisioned 2023 elections could become a reality.

Regarding recent events, Bathily informed the council about the fragile state of stability in Tripoli, disrupted by intense armed clashes between rival militias on August 14-15. These clashes reportedly resulted in at least 55 deaths and over 100 injuries, including an unspecified number of civilians.

Furthermore, Bathily highlighted clashes this month between “armed elements” based in southern Libya and government forces in Chad’s neighboring Tibesti region, further empathizing the potential ramifications of Libya’s political divisions.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned the militia clashes in Tripoli, expressing concern that the instability in Sudan and Niger could potentially escalate into broader violence. She noted the readiness of the Libyan people to seek compromise and stability.

Thomas-Greenfield also stated that the United States would persist in exposing the adverse impact of the Wagner Group in Libya and across Africa. She highlighted the Russian mercenary group’s activities in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Sudan, stressing their ambition to expand influence in Africa, disregarding Libya’s territorial integrity.

While acknowledging the presence of Wagner mercenaries in Libya, Bathily confirmed that the U.N. lacks precise information regarding their numbers and equipment.

Bathily conveyed his earlier optimism about Sudan, Chad, and Niger withdrawing their fighters and mercenaries from Libya after his visits in late March. However, he noted that fighting resumed between rival military leaders in Sudan and the ousting of Niger’s president by the head of the presidential guard last month.

Bathily underscored that Libya’s border with Sudan has opened the movement of armed groups, mercenaries, and criminal elements involved in illegal migration, mining, drug trafficking, and other unlawful activities. Despite this, there hasn’t been a significant influx of Sudanese refugees into Libya.

Concerning Niger, Bathily stated that the country, like other nations in the Sahel region, has been impacted by the Libyan crisis. Some Nigeriens have joined Libyan mercenaries, while armed elements within Niger remain active along the border. He cautioned that any disintegration of the Niger army would have profound repercussions for both Niger and Libya.

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With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, several countries within the EU are receiving devastating economic punches.

Although located in the Arctic circle closer to north America than Europe, but linked through their position within the Danish Kingdom, 15% of Greenland’s total export is affected due to sanctions on Russia, the country’s Múte B. Egede, Greenland Prime Minister told Arctic Today back in June.

And that motivatesGreenland to be active in finding new markets to reduce the economic loss.

‘We’re trying to find new markets, so the negative effects can be as small as it can be,’ said Egede.

The country’s will to enhance new business relations and economic prosper appeals to the European Union, which will open a representative office in the capital of Nuuk this fall, Greenlandic broadcaster NRK reported on Monday.

‘Greenland is already an important partner for the EU today, but there is a potential to do more. We are excited to approach a closer and more practical corporation with Greenland,’ said Per Haugaard, the EU commission’s representative chief in Denmark.

Minerals on sight

A definite date for when the new office will open in Nuuk is unknown as the EU commission continues to search for available space in the capital.

A total of four people will operate the office once it is open. This includes an office chief and three policy staff members. One or two will be local Greenland-speaking people.

With a physical EU presence in Nuuk, new projects involving Greenland’s infrastructure and business sector will run more smoothly with funding from the EU, Haugaard said.

‘There will be daily contact. Our office can share information with residents of Nuuk and the rest of Greenland about what the EU is doing, and what possibilities they have if they want to receive supports for different activities. Greenland’s business sector can apply funding for projects,’ he said.

Of natural recourses, Greenland hosts many minerals and metals that the international market needs to produce technology. Mining opportunities are therefore of big interest.

‘This is where the EU has its expertise and can collaborate in specific projects to see, how we can extract minerals in the future in the most sustainable way,’ said Haugaard.

Greenland did not follow Denmark and parted ways with the old EU in 1985, but today, the country still has economic collaborations with the Union – mainly in the education- and fishing sectors.

In 2023, Greenland receives 218 million DKK from the EU. That will amount increase by 251 million DKK from 2024. The funding represents a large amount of Greenland’s total economy.

Independence with economic growth

For Greenland, targeting economic growth means more than a prosperous society. As a result of being part of the Danish Kingdom, Denmark pays Greenland a yearly financial grant that covers governmental administrative costs.

Once Greenland can cover the grant themselves, the road to independence will be much smoother. With greater international attention in recent years, Greenland is positioning itself as an emerging business partner for superpowers around the world.

Due to geographic proximity, the USA is among the top contenders for landing deals with Greenland, which could make the world’s largest island fully independent from Denmark which administrates foreign affairs and safety politics on behalf of Greenland today.

‘The United States is Greenland’s most important strategic partner,’ said Egede in June and added, ‘We should work hard to be mutually preferred partners in the Arctic.’

‘Trade between Greenland and North America is one of our central priorities,’ he said.

The US opened its first consulate in Nuuk back in 2020. Last year, Greenland agreed on a deal that secures them 61 million DKK with the US, to ensure “greater opportunities for a better economic partnership” between the two countries.

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Greenland’s parliamentary elections ended on last Tuesday with a historical result. The present leading government party Siumut was left without decisive influence to form a new government, as the left-wing environmentalist party Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) claimed victory and formed a joint majority of seats in parliament with centre party Naleraq.

Over half of those eligible to vote (27,079 Greenlanders out of 41,126 eligible votes) took a stance on election day where harsh weather conditions made it hard to reach voting booths. Greenlanders’ relationship to nature was essentially the decisive, hot topic influencing the election’s outcome.

Since Greenland gained autonomy from Denmark and formed its parliamentary system in 1979, Siumut has dominated the island politics apart from one exception. Now, IAs 34-year-old leader Múte Bourup Egede will be in charge of forming a new government, which he will lead for the next four years.

At a time when Greenland has received great attention from the international superpowers, the election result is likely going to have a far wider impact globally than usually. Many may remember how former US president Donald Trump tried to purchase Greenland from Denmark, that controls the islands foreign affairs and defence policies.

Mining for profit cancelled

Mining was one of the pressing issues in the elections, as IA and Naleraq were against mining for profit, whereas Siumut was more supportive of it. Anticipating this, Siumut replaced their chairman and head of Greenland’s government Kim Kielsen by Erik Jensen already last year, ensuring that the power shift would not have any effect on government. In essence, an extraordinary call to a new election was called because of a conflict regarding a mining project in Kuannersuit, in Greenland’s southern edge. Siumut’s pro stance to the project created disagreements on mining certificates within the government and ultimately, this made the Demokraatit party step out of their coalition in government leaving behind Siumut and Nunnata Qitornai, who only represent 11 mandates out of 31 in Greenland’s parliament.

Mining in Kuannersuit originally sparked concern among environmentalists as the mining could harm the area, which is already heavily impacted by global warming. The potential of large economic revenue, that could contribute to independence from Denmark, the mining project quickly became one of the primary topics during the elections. In the days following the elections, vice chairman of Siumut Vivian Motzfeldt told Danish broadcaster DR, that the mining project most likely cost her party the elections.

The outcome had an instant impact on international investors. The Australian-Chinese mining company Greenland Minerals A/S stocks fell about 44 percent in value just a day after the election.

A vote for the Danish realm

Despite the rare outcome, the Greenland elections recorded the ever lowest voting count to date, with 27,079 voters. These voters were named as ‘the worlds most important voters’ by Danish newspaper Weekendavisen’s editor-in-chief Martin Krasnik. According to him, Greenland has chosen a continued development of the Danish realm by the cost of delaying independence. This is a pragmatic decision that will cement Greenland and Denmark’s position when negotiating initiatives between USA, Russia and China in the arctic region the coming years.

According to some of the latest news, Russia is attempting to claim 70 percent of the Arctic Ocean seabed. This represents an area of around 800,000 square kilometres, touching the likes of Greenland/Denmark, Canada, Norway, Russia and the United States. The claim has been formally sent to relevant international institutions, and will be examined by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf by 2022.

Sovereignty of the seabed gives the winner exclusive access to potential natural resources such as oil and gas. However, Russia’s claim does not include the seabed in areas north of Alaska where the US has shown interest for years.

In terms of defence policies, the arctic region is receiving a lot of attention from global superpowers. In October last year a Chinese icebreaker sailed unannounced into Greenland’s territorial waters, according to Reuters.

Because Denmark oversees all defence policies in Greenland, the growing international attention to the area led Denmark to invest 1,5 billion Danish Kroner in February to strengthen defence and add more high-tech based surveillance in the Arctic and North Atlantic region. The investment included a Greenlandic military education the island has never seen before.

Greenland is now finding itself in the centre of global geopolitical games, surrounded by the world’s superpowers competing for emerging sea routes through the arctic due to global warming, and accessibility to rare minerals and defence politics.

The post The Global Impact of Greenland’s Elections Result first appeared on The Postcolonial.