Salwa Al-Daghili, a member of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) said that the “lack of a correct, realistic, and accurate diagnosis of the Libyan crisis is the biggest reason for the failure of the national reconciliation file.”
“The absence of a real will to complete transitional justice and national reconciliation, is also among the reasons for failure,” she tweeted.
The LPDF member added that the “faltering of the political track, the lack of mutual trust, the defects of the laws regarding transitional justice, and the use of violence are also factors.”
In September, the Deputy Head of Libya’s Presidential Council (PC), Abdullah Al-Lafi described the National Reconciliation Project “as a necessity for the country’s stabilization.” He reiterated the ongoing efforts to complete this project.
This came during a panel discussion held by the PC on reconciliation, and ways to enhance local participation. Al-Lafi affirmed the importance of “diverse participation by the Libyan people, in order to ensure the success of this project, which is led and owned by the Libyans themselves.”
At the end of August, Al-Lafi chaired a panel discussion on the project. This was attended by the Justice Minister, Halima Al-Bousifi, a number of judges, and law professors.
Al-Lafi said that the meeting comes “under increasingly difficult circumstances, due to the continuing disagreement between political parties.” He noted that the draft Transitional Justice Law “constitutes a major pillar of the National Reconciliation Project.”
He explained that this would “address the shortcomings of previous legislation, by formulating a unified law that allows the country’s leaders to gather and reform the relationship between its people.”
He affirmed the importance of the project, during the current stage that Libya is witnessing.
Meanwhile, the President of the Supreme Court, Counselor Mohamed Al-Hafi said “the Libyan people need reconciliation, to turn a new page, and overcome differences to ensure stability.” He explained that the “law will lay a solid foundation for comprehensive reconciliation.”
On 9 June, the Libyan Presidential Council announced the imminent launch of the comprehensive national reconciliation project, as assigned by the LPDF. The announcement was made during a meeting between Al-Lafi and Paul Soler, the French Special Envoy to Libya.
Al-Lafi stressed that the reconciliation project “will address all important issues to end the transitional stages in the country and reach the stage of permanent stability.”
“It is a national project owned by the Libyan people and it is free from all restrictions and directives,” Al-Lafi said.
On 5 April 2021, the Presidential Council officially announced the inauguration of a High Commission for Libyan National Reconciliation. The project is yet to be implemented.