On Thursday, Libya’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla Al-Mangoush affirmed the government’s commitment to work alongside the country’s international partners in combating corruption.
“Corruption is a deadly scourge, and despite the current situation in our country, we affirm our commitment to work to combat it,” Al-Mangoush said in a tweet on the International Anti-Corruption Day.
The FM added that it is “not enough to fight corruption by only forming new bodies and organizations, but there must be a real will and unified efforts.”
Notably, Al-Mangoush was included in the BBC’s list of the 100 most influential and inspiring women of 2021. It came as a testament to women’s often-undermined potential, with four Arab women making it on the BBC’s list, further emphasizing their effective role in society.
Al-Mangoush became the first woman to hold a cabinet position in Libya, when she was chosen by the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba.
Libya is set to hold national elections later this month, which is seen as crucial to ending its long-running civil war, but deep political divisions threaten to provoke a delay or renew violence.
Western officials have talked up a UN-led peace process, insisting on “inclusive” and “credible” elections on 24 December, despite serious disputes over how they should be held.
Libya’s electoral commission has said it is ready to organise the process. It has published an initial list of candidates, and handed out voting cards.