The latest disagreements over reaching a compromise to hold elections in Libya in December threaten the roadmap on the way to finally ending a decade of chaos in the war-torn country, analysts say. Seventy-five delegates from the war-torn North African country aired their differences at crazy rallies in Geneva last week.
But despite an extra day of unplanned talks, they remain divided over when to hold elections, what elections to hold and on what constitutional grounds – a blockade that threatens to throw Libya back into crisis.
“No consensus was reached among LPDF members (Libya’s Political Dialogue Forum)” on the controversial issue of constitutional basis for the previously agreed investigations on December 24, the UN acknowledged on Saturday.
The oil-rich Libya was thrown into chaos after dictator Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown and killed in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.
Two rival administrations later emerged with the support of a complex patchwork of militias, mercenaries and foreign powers.
While Turkey supported the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, the East-based Putist general Khalifa Haftar received support from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia.
During a UN-backed ceasefire agreed in October last year, a temporary administration was set up in March to prepare for presidential and parliamentary votes on 24 December.
The UN’s Libyan mission UNSMIL, in its statement on Saturday, warned that “proposals that do not make the elections feasible” on that day “will not be maintained.”
Back in political crisis
But analysts said foreign parties were pushing Libya’s rival camps apart.
“The differences that arose in Geneva were to be expected,” said Khaled al-Montasser, a professor of international relations at the University of Tripoli.
He identified three trends.
“A first group called for elections to be postponed until next year, a second only wants parliamentary elections and a third is still involved in the roadmap”, which proposes both legislative and presidential elections.
The LPDF members would have agreed on 1 July on the constitutional basis for Parliament to adopt an electoral law.
“We agreed on a draft text … but from the beginning of the meetings (Geneva) it was questioned by some members who put forward new proposals,” a delegate told AFP, asking not to be identified.
They tried to “avoid their commitment to hold elections” according to the timetable, he said.
” Orchestrated in advance ”
But Jalal al-Fitouri, a law professor, said the divisions were “orchestrated in advance.”
“It is no secret to anyone that the (foreign) states that monopolize the Libyan file … are pressuring those who represented them within the LPDF in Geneva,” he said.
“Each state supports a particular side and has a position on how to hold the vote and on the conditions for candidacy.” By manipulating the process, foreign players hope to ensure that their favorites come to power and can represent their interests in Libya’s lucrative post-war reconstruction, he added. Since last year’s ceasefire, the security situation in Libya has slowly improved. But progress has stalled, especially on another important precondition for the vote – the withdrawal of all foreign forces. The UN has estimated that 20,000 foreign forces, including Russian mercenaries, are still in Libyan territory. Turkey refuses to withdraw its military, saying its presence is based on an agreement with the former unitary government in Tripoli.
Turkey’s Ministry of Defense notes that the Turkish presence in Libya is based on an invitation from the legitimate UN-recognized government and the security agreement signed between the two parties. As part of the deal, Turkish soldiers continue to provide military training and consultations in coordination with their efforts to help the Libyan army professionalize and reach international standards with training in five training centers, it added.
Turkey’s support for the war-torn country prevented the country from plunging into further conflicts and paved the way for the UN-led political solution between the warring parties.
Turkey announced its support for UN-led talks in Geneva on 19-23 October, which resulted in a declaration of ceasefire, as it supported the talks in Istanbul and Moscow.
As statements by the Ministry of Defense emphasize, the basis for a political solution was created due to Turkey’s support for Libya.
The statements from the Turkish Ministry of Defense also emphasize that Ankara continues to support the country’s territorial integrity, a sustainable ceasefire and ensure lasting peace and stability in Libya.
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