Unity at last: Is Libya's damaging power struggle at an end?
For over a decade, Libya has been split between two opposing governments. Elections, meant to end the rivalry and unite the country, are now scheduled within two years.
The long-standing power struggle in Libya may have reached a turning point. Following mediation by the United Nations, two competing governments situated in the east and west of the country have agreed to stage parliamentary and presidential elections within the next two years. This marks a crucial step towards establishing a permanent government and progressing towards national elections, according to the UN's Support Mission in Libya.
The electoral commission will be restructured, and the legal framework for the elections previously causing disputes has been resolved. However, the success of these elections in being free and fair remains uncertain. Libya's division began after the ousting of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, with the UN-backed Government of National Unity based in the west's capital, Tripoli, and the rival House of Representatives in the east's capital, Tobruk.
Each side is backed by local militias and foreign powers, and attempts to hold an election that would unite the country have thus far been unsuccessful. Some experts believe this apparent unity is a positive development, as it indicates a shift in the political actors' attitudes towards unity. The UN is working to strengthen the electoral commission and the legal framework for elections, while the US is attempting to broker a deal between the country's elites.
However, the success of the elections in being truly free and fair is contingent on the legitimacy of the decisions made and the proper functioning of public institutions.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
