Libya’s rival leaders agree to hold elections in December

LIBYA’S rival leaders agreed to hold parliamentary and presidential elections on December 10 following a meeting in Paris.

Representatives from 20 countries – including Libya’s neighbours, regional and European powers, the United States (U.S.) and international organisa- tions - were at meetings at the Elysee Palace yesterday. “The parties have committed to set the constitutional basis for elections and adopt the necessary electoral laws by September 16, 2018, and hold parliamentary and presidential elections on December 10, 2018,” said a joint statement.

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-sarraj said he was happy with the outcome of the meeting and was keen to see the agreement ratified by all stakeholders. “We reaffirm the existence and the need for a constitutional basis to organise an election and the need for everyone to work handin-hand to make sure the elections are a success,” Sarraj said in a press conference shortly after the meeting.

Sarraj added that he had called on other rival leaders who attended the meeting to bring an end to the civil war in the country and put an end to the bloodshed in Libya.

Libya splintered following the 2011 Nato-backed revolt that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Since 2014 the North African nation has been divided into competing political and military factions based in Tripoli and the east.

The United Nations is leading an effort to reunify the oil-rich country and to organise national elec- tions.

The Paris meeting, which included eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar, Tripoli Prime Minister Sarraj, and leaders of rival parliamentary assemblies, aimed to urge them to agree to general principles for ending Libya’s crisis and moving towards elections.