TRIPOLI – Political turmoil and armed conflict have led to the collapse of the economy, allowed migrant smugglers to flourish and opened the way for Islamist militants. Libyans today look forward to emerging from this complex situation and reforming their country.
It is a time-consuming and arduous task, but it is not impossible if Libyans agree. Some of the features of this reform process and the seriousness of Libyans in moving through a series of UN-backed public consultations aimed at overcoming the political impasse and preparing for new elections will be evident.
“There are great opportunities for the success of the UN proposal to hold presidential elections in September,” said former Libyan diplomat and businessman Aref Ali al-Nayed, president of the Libya Complex for Advanced Studies, although he acknowledged that his country is still “in a state of political and military turmoil that has repeatedly obstructed a solution and political authority accepted by all parties.”
Last September, the United Nations submitted a plan to hold parliamentary and presidential elections in Libya by the end of 2018, as the end of the two-year mandate of the Government of Reconciliation approaches, with no political solution on the horizon.
“Don’t believe what is said that Libyans are not ready for elections, with the legitimacy of most of the current authorities fading and the desire to end the seven-year-old suffering, most Libyans are in favour of holding elections at all presidential and legislative levels,” al-Nayed said in an interview with the German news agency DPA.
“Some outside Libya may imagine that the armed factions are unanimous in addressing the elections, but the reality is that while some armed leaders, unfortunately even (some) officials and politicians, are desperate in their attempts to postpone and obstruct the elections to retain their current positions and privileges, there are many Libyans, including militants and others, who are tired of their situation and the situation of the country and want to push it forward,” he said.
Source : alarab.co.uk