UNSMIL Forms Advisory Committee to Address Libya’s Election Impasse

UNSMIL has established an advisory committee to propose solutions to the electoral impasse in Libya, hindered by disputes over candidacy. The committee, consisting of professionals with expertise in legal and electoral issues, will develop proposals to facilitate elections amid ongoing political division and skepticism about leaders’ intentions. The committee will not make binding decisions but will inform the next steps in the political process.

The United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced the establishment of a committee aimed at resolving critical issues that have obstructed the long-desired national elections. This initiative comes after the political process to end over ten years of conflict in Libya stalled following the cancellation of elections initially set for December 2021, primarily due to disputes regarding candidate eligibility.

Libya has struggled with instability since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011, leading to a division between eastern and western factions that now have competing governments. The newly formed advisory committee, comprised of 13 men and seven women, will meet for the first time next week in Tripoli.

UNSMIL’s efforts to establish an advisory committee reflect the urgent need to address long-standing political divisions in Libya. The nation has seen little peace since its split in 2014 into rival eastern and western governments. Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah’s government in Tripoli, established in 2021 through a UN-supported initiative, is not recognized by the House of Representatives based in Benghazi, further complicating the situation. The skepticism among Libyans regarding the political leaders’ intentions highlights the deep mistrust in the political process.

The formation of the advisory committee by UNSMIL represents a hopeful step towards overcoming the electoral impasse in Libya. As the committee engages in addressing essential issues tied to the electoral process, the continued strife between rival factions underlines the greater challenges that lie ahead. The success of reaching agreements could pave the way for a return to stability and legitimate governance in Libya.

Original Source: www.newarab.com