Libya’s journey through 2023 was tumultuous, marked by persistent political fragmentation, delays in resolving the political crisis, and the much-awaited elections, overshadowed by the catastrophic Storm Daniel which brought grief to Libyan homes.
The year started with a notable visit by CIA Director William Burns to Libya on January 12. Announced by the Government of National Unity, his arrival in Tripoli involved meetings with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba, focusing on supporting Libya’s stability and facilitating elections. On the same day, Burns met with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), in Benghazi, his first visit since assuming office in March 2021.
As 2023 progressed, Libyans yearned for a political breakthrough. On February 27, Abdoulaye Bathily, head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, introduced a UN initiative to organize elections during his briefing to the UN Security Council. This marked his first major initiative since his appointment in September 2022.
Bathily proposed forming a Supreme Electoral Committee, consisting of 40 representatives from the House of Representatives, the High State Council, political entities, tribes, women, youth, and military personnel. The committee’s tasks included laying a constitutional foundation, addressing disputes in the constitutional declaration, and establishing electoral laws.
The committee’s responsibilities encompassed creating a roadmap for elections, a charter for political entities to endorse election results, ensuring election security, unifying executive power, and ensuring a neutral government with equal opportunities for all candidates.
In March, the Libyan Parliament selected members for the “6+6” joint committee to address legal disputes affecting the electoral process. However, the committee faced challenges in achieving consensus on its laws.
In May, the House of Representatives suspended Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha and appointed Finance Minister Osama Hammad as interim Prime Minister.
The “6+6” committee, meeting in Bouznika, Morocco, in May, struggled with disagreements over the electoral laws. By June 7, a consensus was reached on the laws for upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, although final agreements were stalled due to escalating differences between House of Representatives Speaker Ageela Saleh and former High Council of State (HCS) head Khaled al-Mishri, particularly over military participation in elections.
August brought a controversial development when Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with Libya’s former Foreign Minister Najla Al Mangoush in Rome, discussing potential cooperation and preserving Libyan Jewish heritage. This sparked protests across Libya, leading to Al Mangoush’s dismissal and investigation by Prime Minister Dbaiba.
September brought a grave disaster to Libya. On September 10, Storm Daniel struck Eastern Libya, causing extensive casualties and widespread destruction of homes, properties, and infrastructure. This natural disaster added a layer of tragedy to Libya’s already complex political and social landscape.
In the midst of recovery efforts from Storm Daniel, the House of Representatives passed new laws on October 4, addressing presidential and parliamentary elections. However, the High State Council remained committed to the outcomes of the “6+6” committee’s work in Bouznika, Morocco, and rejected the new laws.
The main disagreement centered on eligibility criteria for presidential candidates, particularly military personnel and dual nationals.
Continuing the legislative momentum, the Parliament published the new election laws in the official gazette on November 2, despite objections from the High State Council and the UN mission. These laws outlined the framework for a bicameral National Assembly, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate. The laws stipulated that Senate elections would coincide with the first round of the presidential elections, while the House of Representatives elections would align with the presidential runoff. In a significant clause, the law stated that if presidential elections were not feasible, the entire electoral process would be invalidated.
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In November, UN envoy Abdoulaye Bathily launched a five-party initiative to address political disputes and facilitate presidential and parliamentary elections. This included representatives from the Presidential Council, House of Representatives, High State Council, Government of National Unity, and the Libyan National Army.
On November 28, Ageela Saleh confirmed the House of Representatives had fulfilled its responsibilities, emphasizing that the “6+6” committee’s laws were a sound basis for the electoral process, contingent on forming a new unified government.
Throughout 2023, Libya remained entangled in a complex web of political challenges and natural disasters, with the Libyan people continuing to aspire for stability and democratic governance.