UN launches new bid to revive Libya’s elections
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The United Nations has launched a new initiative involving Libyan experts to resolve electoral law disputes and revive long-delayed national elections aimed at unifying the country's divided government and institutions.
The United Nations (UN) has launched a new initiative aimed at reviving Libya’s long-delayed national elections. In an effort to address the ongoing political deadlock, the UN has called a fresh meeting of Libyan experts to tackle the contentious issues surrounding the country’s electoral laws.
According to a statement made on Sunday by the acting head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Koury, the team of experts will work on developing viable options to overcome the challenges preventing the holding of elections. The committee will focus on the legal disputes and will also explore the creation of a clear governance framework. This framework will include a roadmap with specific milestones and priorities for a government that can gain consensus among the various factions in the country.
This new attempt comes after years of delays and setbacks in Libya’s political transition. The country has been embroiled in conflict since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, and the UN has been mediating a political process to bring stability and establish a unified government. Originally, Libya was set to hold national elections in December 2021, but those elections were postponed due to disputes over the eligibility of major candidates. These issues led to a breakdown in the UN-led political process, stalling any meaningful progress toward resolving the country’s crisis.
The failure to conduct elections has kept Libya in a state of political fragmentation, with rival factions in the east and west of the country continuing to control separate administrations. In August 2023, the Libyan parliament based in the eastern city of Tobruk voted to end the mandate of the Tripoli-based government led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. This move further complicated efforts to unify the country and hold elections, as both sides have remained in a deadlock over the structure of a future government.
The UN’s new initiative hopes to break this impasse by providing a neutral platform for the various Libyan stakeholders to come together and agree on the terms for conducting elections. The goal is to create a single national government that can unify Libya’s institutions, including its military, and put an end to the divisions that have plagued the country for over a decade.
At the heart of the conflict lies the struggle for control between the two rival administrations. The eastern-based parliament, which wields significant influence in the oil-rich regions of Libya, has long been at odds with the western-based government, which holds power in the capital, Tripoli. These rival factions have led to the establishment of competing military forces, each aligned with different political groups and regions. Consequently, any attempt to hold elections has been fraught with difficulties, as there is no consensus on how the country should be governed.
Libya’s political crisis has been further complicated by the involvement of foreign actors, with various international powers backing different factions in the country. The UN’s role in facilitating negotiations and guiding the country toward elections has been pivotal, but it has often been thwarted by the intractable nature of the divisions on the ground.
Despite these challenges, the UN remains committed to helping Libya achieve a political resolution and a path toward elections. The UN-backed political process, which has included dialogue between Libyan factions and various rounds of negotiations, is seen as the most viable route for achieving peace and stability in the country. However, many Libyan citizens are growing frustrated with the lack of progress, as the country’s political elite continues to delay the election process in pursuit of their own interests.
The new committee of Libyan experts is expected to engage in intense discussions to address the key issues preventing elections, such as electoral law reforms, the establishment of a unified electoral commission, and the resolution of disputes over the eligibility of candidates. The committee will also explore how to ensure the inclusivity and fairness of the election process to prevent any one faction from dominating the political landscape.
The international community has repeatedly stressed the importance of holding elections in Libya, with many viewing it as the only way to establish a lasting peace. The outcome of the UN’s renewed efforts will have significant implications not only for Libya’s future but also for the broader stability of the region.
In conclusion, while the path to elections in Libya remains uncertain, the UN’s latest effort to engage Libyan experts and create a framework for governance offers a glimmer of hope. It is crucial that the various political factions within the country work together to reach a consensus, as only through elections can Libya move toward the establishment of a unified government, a cohesive military, and a stronger state.
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