On Wednesday, the Libyan Parliament condemned the attack on the headquarters of the Supreme Judicial Council in Tripoli, carried out by an armed group. This shocking incident coincides with a crucial time in the country’s trajectory, as efforts are underway to achieve consensus surrounding the upcoming elections, end internal divisions, and guide the nation out of its ongoing crisis.
The Parliament expressed its “deep concern over such actions, which threaten the unity of the judicial institution—an essential entity for nation-building.” The House emphasised the “dire need for maintaining the judicial institution’s unity, especially considering the prevailing divisions among other national establishments.”
In its statement, it highlighted its “dismay at such destructive acts, which place the integrity of the judicial institution, vital to the state’s formation, under threat. The necessity for unity within the judicial body has never been more apparent, as divisions continue to afflict other national institutions, thereby escalating risks and threats to the country’s unity.”
The House of Representatives urged for concerted efforts to maintain institutional unity and stability, in order to navigate through these tumultuous times and build a unified, resilient nation.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December 2021, and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, who is leading the transitional government, to step down.