U.N. May Delay Libya Election Conference, Reports Reuters

By Ulf Laessing and Ayman al-Warfalli

TUNIS/BENGHAZI, Libya – The United Nations is expected to postpone a conference aimed at organizing elections in Libya this year until there is greater backing from competing leaders, according to sources familiar with the situation.

This national meeting is pivotal to the U.N. and Western strategy for facilitating a vote in Libya, which has been embroiled in conflict for eight years following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

However, the current power dynamics in Libya are heavily influenced by leading players and their allied militant groups, fostering a climate of distrust between the rival governments and their respective parliaments.

Since the NATO-supported uprising against Gaddafi, Libya has fractured into competing political and armed factions, primarily centered in Tripoli and the eastern regions of the country.

A further delay in the U.N.-sponsored conference, where Libyans from various backgrounds are expected to outline the specifics of their electoral process—including the type of presidential or parliamentary system—could also postpone the actual voting.

Under a prior French initiative, Libya was scheduled to hold elections on December 10, but these plans were shelved amid internal divisions and a rise in violence in Tripoli.

In a renewed effort, U.N. Libya envoy Ghassan Salame aimed for a conference in early 2019, with the goal of potential elections by June. However, that momentum has waned due to resistance from major factions that support the dual governments in Tripoli and the east, which profit from oil revenue and the provision of jobs for armed groups in the absence of established police forces.

Sources have indicated that while the conference could still take place by the end of February, a delay until at least March appears more probable. One source noted, “Salame will not announce a venue or date until there is adequate support from all parties involved.”

The U.N. mission in Libya expressed its intention to hold a successful meeting but has not yet set a date. They stated, “We plan for the conference to happen as soon as possible.”

Diplomats regard this conference as a crucial opportunity for Salame, who has been striving for elections since September 2017.

Western nations are hopeful that ordinary Libyans will exert pressure on armed groups towards a peaceful resolution. In eastern Libya, however, there are concerns that the conference may provide a platform for Islamists and other opposition groups previously defeated by the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar.

Recently, around 20 lawmakers from the eastern parliament proposed a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, complicating potential negotiations with Khaled Mishri, head of the rival parliament in Tripoli, who has links to the Brotherhood.

“I personally think the conference is a good idea, but achieving results will be challenging,” commented eastern lawmaker Hamd Bazaq.

Diplomats also worry that a recent disagreement between Salame and the LNA could further complicate the preparation for the conference.