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Libya Review
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
UN Dismisses Rumours of Libya Talks in Tunisia
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has denied reports that it is organising or hosting a political dialogue between Libyan factions in Tunis on 28–29 May. In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, UNSMIL said, 'Contrary to recent media reports, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya is not organising or hosting any dialogue between Libyan parties in Tunis on 28 and 29 May.' The clarification comes as the UN mission released a detailed report outlining the proposals of its advisory committee, aimed at resolving key disputes blocking progress toward national elections. The committee, composed of 20 Libyan experts in legal, constitutional, and electoral affairs, held over 20 meetings in both Tripoli and Benghazi across three months. The report presents four potential pathways to end Libya's prolonged transitional period and pave the way for elections. The first option proposes holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously. The second suggests parliamentary elections first, followed by the adoption of a permanent constitution. The third path prioritises adopting a permanent constitution before any elections. The fourth option involves forming a political dialogue committee under the Libyan Political Agreement to finalise electoral laws, executive authority arrangements, and a permanent constitution. International support swiftly followed the release. The United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, and the European Union delegation to Libya welcomed the initiative, describing the advisory committee's proposals as a timely opportunity for Libyans to re-engage in dialogue and revive momentum toward a peaceful, unified, and democratic future. The EU and its member states' embassies hailed the proposals as a 'significant achievement' in Libya's UN-facilitated political process, calling on stakeholders to constructively engage with the advisory committee's recommendations. Tags: libyaLibyan CrisisTunisiaunsmil
Libya Review
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
UNSMIL Reveals Plan to End Political Deadlock in Libya
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has released the proposals of its advisory committee aimed at ending the country's prolonged transitional phase and paving the way for national elections. According to a statement issued by the mission, the report outlines four potential pathways that could serve as a roadmap for holding elections and concluding the transitional period. The options include: holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections; conducting parliamentary elections first, followed by the adoption of a permanent constitution; drafting and adopting a constitution before elections; or establishing a political dialogue committee based on the Libyan Political Agreement to finalise electoral laws, executive authority, and the permanent constitution. The proposals were presented by UN Special Representative Hanna Tetteh to key Libyan stakeholders in both eastern and western regions. The mission said it intends to share the committee's outcomes with the broader Libyan public to gather feedback and conduct opinion surveys. UNSMIL also announced plans to hold consultations on the report with political parties, youth and women's groups, civil society organisations, security bodies, community elders, and local leaders. The initiative seeks to build consensus around a viable and inclusive political roadmap, as Libya continues to grapple with deep divisions and the absence of unified national governance. The advisory committee was formed to provide actionable suggestions that could unlock the political stalemate and lay the groundwork for credible elections. With years of delay and growing public frustration, the UN hopes the newly proposed options will create momentum for a unified political solution. The mission reiterated its commitment to engaging all sectors of Libyan society in shaping the future of the country, emphasising the importance of national ownership and inclusive dialogue. Tags: ElectionslibyaLibyan Crisisunsmil
Libya Observer
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Observer
26 pro-Haftar MPs reject forming new government by "single party"
26 members of the House of Representatives known for their affiliation to Khalifa Haftar warned against any attempt to change the parallel government or form a new one by 'a single party,' whether 'the House of Representatives alone or in partnership with a faction of the divided High Council of State,' stating that such a move is politically and nationally illegitimate. In a statement issued Monday, ahead of a House of Representatives session in which Speaker Aguila Saleh proposed the formation of a third government, the MPs said that dismissing the government mandated by the House without broad political consensus—and amid the complete paralysis of the High Council of State—constitutes a clear violation of the Libyan Political Agreement, which explicitly requires partnership between the House and the Council in making sovereign decisions, especially the matter of changing the government. 'What is being planned today is merely an attempt to repeat a previous experience that yielded no positive results in unifying the executive authority. On the contrary, experience has shown that unilateral changes have failed to establish a stable political reality across the country.' They said. They added: 'Forming a new government at this time, outside the framework of national consensus, may disrupt the development and reconstruction plans already underway in many cities and regions across the country, threatening to halt ongoing projects and undermine efforts aimed at stabilizing services and improving infrastructure.' They also said: The MPs from the Cyrenaica region affirm, stemming from their historical and national responsibilities toward the entire country, their outright rejection of any attempt to form a new government in the absence of a comprehensive political settlement based on clear and legitimate foundations, with the participation of all relevant parties, in accordance with constitutional legitimacy and the spirit of the Libyan Political Agreement. Tags: House of Representatives
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Libya's crisis: A timeline of events since the 2011 uprising
May 14 (Reuters) - Here is a timeline chronicling Libya's years of chaos and division: 2011 - Revolt and civil war An uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's four-decade rule rapidly spreads, becoming an armed revolt aided by NATO airstrikes. Gaddafi is ousted in August and killed in October by rebels. 2012 - Missed opportunities A rebel council holds elections for an interim General National Congress which creates a transitional government. True power lies with local armed groups. Islamist militants gain ground and attack the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, killing the ambassador. 2013 - Growing divisions Armed groups are ever more powerful, besieging government buildings. The Congress is increasingly divided and trust ebbs as it seeks to extend its term and delay elections. 2014 - East-West schism The Congress rejects the results of an election to a new parliament - the House of Representatives (HoR) - and sets up a government backed by armed groups in the west. The newly elected parliament moves from Tripoli to the east in support of a rival government backed by Khalifa Haftar, a former general who has brought together several armed factions as the Libyan National Army. Libya is now split between warring administrations in east and west. 2015 - Islamists on the march Islamist groups take advantage of the chaos and Islamic State seizes Sirte, Gaddafi's home city in central Libya, in February. In December, the rival parliamentary bodies sign the Libyan Political Agreement to set up a new transition. The agreement confirms the HoR as Libya's parliament but gives members of the General National Congress a new role as an advisory second chamber - the High State Council (HSC). 2016 - Islamic State driven back The HoR rejects the new government as it takes office in Tripoli, entrenching Libya's east-west divide. Western armed factions eventually take Sirte from Islamic State as Haftar fights militants in Derna and Benghazi and seizes the oil crescent region of central Libya. 2019 - Haftar attacks Tripoli After two more years of on-off fighting across Libya, Haftar drives his LNA through the south, bringing most remaining oil fields under his control. In April, Haftar launches a surprise offensive against Tripoli, taking Sirte en route. He is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia. Western Libyan armed groups come together to support the Tripoli government with help from Turkey, their alliance bolstered by a deal on maritime borders that angers Egypt and Greece. 2020 - Ceasefire Turkey openly offers military support to Tripoli and Haftar's offensive collapses. As his forces pull back, evidence of atrocities is found in the town of Tarhuna. The sides agree a ceasefire and the U.N. launches a new peacemaking effort aimed at holding national elections the following year. 2021 - A failed election Eastern and western factions accept a new Government of National Unity (GNU) and Presidency Council, meant to oversee elections in December. But the HoR in the east and the HSC in the west cannot agree on a new constitution or rules for the vote and the election falls apart at the last minute. 2022 - Standoff Both parliamentary bodies now say the unity government has lost its legitimacy but the prime minister, Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, refuses to quit. The HoR in eastern Libya again appoints a rival administration, but it fails to enter Tripoli. The Nawasi, a major Tripoli militia, is driven from the capital. 2023 - Paralysis As efforts to end the impasse stall, the major players work to consolidate their positions. The catastrophic flood that hits Derna in the east after two poorly maintained dams collapse underscores the havoc caused by 12 years of chaos and division. 2024 - Central Bank crisis The Presidency Council in Tripoli sacks the veteran Central Bank of Libya (CBL) head Sadiq al-Kabir, a year after Dbeibah replaced the longstanding National Oil Corporation chief. The two bodies had managed to remain relatively independent and the changes prompt a political crisis. 2025 - Tripoli factions battle for supremacy Major militia leader Abdulghani Kikli, known as Ghaniwa, is killed and factions aligned with Dbeibah rapidly seize his group's territory. With Dbeibah appearing close to consolidating control over Tripoli after years of fragmentation, intense clashes break out.
Libya Review
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Libya's Parliament Speaker Urges Consensus to End Political Division
Libya's Speaker of the Parliament, Ageela Saleh, renewed his call for the urgent formation of a new, unified government, stating that the step is essential to pulling the country out of its prolonged political and institutional crisis. Saleh made the remarks in a recorded address released Saturday, emphasizing that the creation of a new executive authority is not contingent upon holding elections. According to Saleh, a new government must be formed immediately and in line with the Libyan Political Agreement, through consensus between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State. 'We no longer have the luxury of multiple tracks or a variety of solutions. We must move swiftly to establish a new authority. Our experience with multiple dialogues has failed, starting from the Skhirat Agreement to the Geneva talks, which only prolonged the crisis and deepened the national divide,' he said. Saleh criticised the Presidential Council, headed by Mohamed Al Mnifi, stating it has overstepped its role by issuing decrees with legal force outside its jurisdiction. 'The Presidential Council was not elected and thus has no legitimate mandate to represent the Libyan people. It has aligned itself with a government whose legal and political term has expired, and it has interfered in matters beyond its scope while obstructing the reconciliation process,' he said. He accused the Council of contributing directly to the continuation of Libya's institutional paralysis by failing to unify state institutions and support national reconciliation. Saleh said that the time has come for decisive action, and that forming a unified authority is the last remaining option to avoid further deterioration. He concluded by warning against further delay, stressing that the future of Libya depends on a serious consensus between the legislative institutions and abandoning failed tracks of international dialogue. Tags: DivisionGovernmentlibyaParliament SpeakerPresidential Council
