On Sunday, Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla Al-Mangoush stressed the government’s commitment to facilitating the election process, and to hold them as scheduled.
In press statements on the sidelines of the Paris International Conference on Libya, Al-Mangoush described Tunisia’s role in the Libyan crisis as “effective and vital.” She added that Tunisia’s support for Libya was not only demonstrated during the conference but also during the recent Libya Stabilisation Conference held in October in Tripoli.
“Tunisia has always emphasized that Libyan affairs must be managed by a national will,” she added.
The Libyan FM welcomed the outcomes of the Paris Conference, which was held at the initiative of France, Germany, and Italy. As well as adding that it saw “a unified position of the brotherly countries, including Tunisia”. She reaffirmed her gratitude for the support of the Tunisian government to Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
Last week, Libya stepped up preparations for the landmark elections, opening registration for both Presidential and Parliamentary candidates.
The upcoming Libyan elections, planned for 24 December, aim to help the country move on from a decade of war. The country’s first-ever direct Presidential poll, is the climax of a peace process launched last year by the United Nations.
Despite a year of relative peace following a ceasefire between eastern and western camps, the process has been overshadowed by wrangling over the Libyan electoral legal base, and the powers of the victors. This has sparked fears of a return to violence in the event of a contested result.
Candidates are able to lodge applications at offices of the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC) in the three main cities in Libya’s west, east, and south until 22 November. Parliamentary candidates have until 7 December to announce their registration.