The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit has urged international support for Libya, and the endorsement of the country’s elections before the end of this year. This call to action comes after the joint committee appointed by the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS) agreed on the laws for the Presidential and legislative elections in Libya.
Aboul Gheit encouraged Libyan parties to “overcome obstacles that hinder the conduct of the elections.” He stressed the importance of “international mobilization to provide support to the Libyan people in a way that preserves Libya’s unity, sovereignty, security, and stability.” This sentiment was expressed in a high-level session convened by the UN Security Council on Thursday, to discuss cooperation between the United Nations and the Arab League.
During the session, Aboul Gheit discussed the situations in several Arab countries, including Libya, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine. He clarified that “the Arab region faces many challenges, but it remains an important partner in global efforts to maintain international peace and security.”
On Thursday, the Arab League highlighted the necessity to clear obstacles impeding the final signature on the Libyan electoral law agreement, following the consensus in Bouznika, Morocco.
In a statement, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit praised Morocco’s efforts in hosting meetings of the 6+6 Joint Committee. This is tasked by the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS) to draft the electoral laws.
The Committee postponed the signing of the final agreement, during a press conference on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, reports emerged about disagreements over some clauses.
Jalal Al-Shwehdi, the Head of the Parliamentary delegation, stated that the members agreed on a law for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. They are awaiting the final approval by the Speaker of the Parliament, Ageela Saleh, and the Chairman of the HCS, Khaled Al-Mishri in the coming days.
The agreement is a significant step towards organizing nationwide elections, which is seen as a crucial phase in the stabilization of Libya, and the solidification of its democratic processes.
These electoral laws would provide a legal framework for conducting free, fair, and inclusive elections.
The Committee announced on 24 May that it had reached an understanding to start finalizing the election laws, during a meeting in Morocco.
Over 50 members of the HCS and 61 MP’s rejected the outcomes of the Committee.