Registration for the upcoming December elections in Libya was closed, the country’s election commission said on Tuesday when doubts grew as to whether Libya would be able to move towards normalization despite a month-long pause in the fighting.
Commission chief Imad al-Sayeh told reporters in Tripoli that some 2.83 million people in the North African country had registered to vote and urged citizens abroad to register as of Wednesday.
Libya, home to some 7 million people, has taken preliminary steps since last summer to end a decade of violent fragmentation originally caused by the overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
A UN-mediated ceasefire signed in October between warring eastern and western camps has largely lasted.
Parallel political negotiations have installed a transitional government tasked with leading the country towards national elections set for 24 December.
But despite months of relative peace, Libyans remain at odds over when elections should be held, what elections and on what legal basis.
Libya has been without a constitution since Gaddafi abolished it in 1969.
The 75 delegates selected by the UN to steer the political transition have not yet agreed on a constitutional basis for the December votes.
Last week at a virtual meeting, they again failed to reach a compromise despite pressure from the UN
Sayeh said on Tuesday that the commission was waiting for a new electoral law to be adopted so that candidates could start registering.
Similarly, US Special Envoy and Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland said that Libyan political leaders must compromise to meet public expectations of free and fair elections.
Norland pointed out that this will be an important step towards stability, unity and democracy in the North African nation.
Norland also noted that stability and continued progress in the political and security process will lead to greater economic opportunities, foreign investment and prosperity for Libyans.
On the other hand, the Libyan army has warned that there are signs that war is still a possibility in Libya.
.
