World

Libya Factions Draft Initial Election Pact Despite Lingering Mistrust

A new UN-backed committee has drafted an initial election pact aimed at ending years of political divisions within Libya, according to Al Jazeera. The agreement, signed by a 4+4 committee comprising four representatives from the eastern House of Representatives and four from the High Council of State of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, was reached in Tunis on August 20. Al Jazeera reported that the pact covers electoral laws and the restructuring of the national elections commission, potentially moving the process toward a delicate implementation phase. However, legal expert Al-Mahdi Kashbour cautioned that significant gaps exist between the parties that signed the agreement and the institutions with the authority to implement it. Political analyst Elias Al-Barouni noted that the pact does not establish concrete plans for the country's elections, and even if legal hurdles are cleared, leadership succession during the interim period remains unresolved. Key legislative bodies including the High Council of State expressed reservations, with member Nuh al-Malati stating the council had not received an official copy of the agreement and that changes do not enjoy consensus within the council. Similar skepticism emerged from eastern House of Representatives members who claim they were not briefed directly on the negotiations but only followed proceedings through media reports. The United Nations acknowledged the draft as an important step concluding negotiations on all points under discussion, while noting the agreement will be made publicly available after final signing.

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