The World Briefly

March 12, 2024

Moving Forward

Libya

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Three key Libyan leaders agreed this week to form a new unity government that would supervise long-delayed elections in the North African country, Reuters reported.

After the deposing of autocrat Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya was split into two rival administrations in 2014 which was followed by a six-year civil war.

The conflict between Libya’s internationally-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli and forces affiliated with Libyan eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar officially ended in 2020 following a United Nations-backed ceasefire agreement.

But the political process to resolve lingering issues following the civil conflict has been stalled since an election scheduled for December 2021 collapsed amid disputes over the eligibility of the main candidates.

On Sunday, President Mohammad Younes Menfi of the Presidential Council (PC), Mohamed Takala of the High State Council (HSC) – both based in Tripoli – and Aguila Saleh, the speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) based in the eastern city of Benghazi, met in the Egyptian capital at the invitation of Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

The three leaders agreed on the “necessity” of forming a unified government and called on the UN Mission in Libya, as well as the international community, to support the proposals.

They also agreed to form a technical committee to “look into controversial points.”

Menfi expressed optimism regarding the outcomes of their discussions, deeming them pivotal in fulfilling the aspirations of the Libyan people for transparent and fair elections.

However, significant challenges remain on the domestic front: The Government of National Unity under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah – installed through a UN-backed process in 2021 – faces questions regarding its legitimacy, particularly as the parliament no longer recognizes it.

Dbeibah has also refused to relinquish power without the holding of elections.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve Libya’s political deadlock are focusing on pushing for new parliamentary and presidential polls to replace the interim political institutions, including the House of Representatives, High State Council and the Government of National Unity.

While all of Libya’s political figures have called for elections, many voters remain skeptical about their leaders’ willingness to go forward with a vote that would see them relinquish power.

This story originally appeared in the March 12, 2024 newsletter, The Masterful Player.