The 75 members of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, representing all regions in Libya have until Friday to select a prime minister and a three-member presidency council from a list of 45 candidates according to Libya’s UN mission UNSMIL. The new prime minister and a three-member presidency council will lead the country until elections in December.
Why This Matters
Libya has been split into independently governed regions since 2014, a situation which has contributed to the endless political tension and divisions in the country.
The internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli is backed by Turkey, while renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar’s eastern-based, self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) is supported by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt.
Bringing together opposing factions to agree to a transitional government is a landmark achievement for the United Nations mission in Libya. This is considered as a first step towards brokering peace in the region as the talks involve a military ceasefire which occurred in October 2020. Libya has been pulled apart by a civil war since 2011 after a NATO-backed uprising led to the removal and killing of a long-time dictator, Muammar Qaddafi.
Who Are The Candidates?
A shortlist of 24 candidates for the Presidency Council and 21 candidates for prime minister has been created. Chief among the candidates for the Presidency Council include Aguila Saleh, President of the House of Representatives of the eastern city of Tobruk, interior minister of the GNA Fathi Bashagha, defence minister Saleh Namroush, and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maetig, and Khalid Al Mishri, head of the High Council of State.
What’s Next for Libya?
The transitional government will be responsible for preparing the country for elections in December, restoring public order and services, as well as tackling corruption. The elections will coincide with the day Libya gained independence in 1951––December 24.
