On Monday, the US Embassy in Libya welcomed the agreement reached during the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) to hold national elections on 24 December 2021.
In a statement, the Embassy said that holding elections will enable all Libyans to exercise their sovereign right to choose the country’s future leadership and direction.
It also applauded the sincere and ongoing efforts of the LPDF participants, as they seek consensus on how to improve governance and deliver services ahead of these elections.
The Embassy also stated that it stands with all responsible Libyan parties, as they come together in peaceful dialogue to reassert Libya’s sovereignty, reject foreign interference, and build a brighter future through the democratic process.
It also congratulated the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Stephanie Williams, and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for their tireless support for this intra-Libyan dialogue.
Williams said the political talks on Libya’s future have reached an agreement on holding elections within 18 months. She hailed it as a “breakthrough” in the peace-making process, that still faces great obstacles.
The UNSMIL head added that the new government would have to quickly address deteriorating public services, and corruption, two issues that prompted protests on both sides of the frontlines this summer.
75 Libyan participants chosen by the United Nations met in Tunisia on Monday. Williams said the meeting had reached a preliminary agreement on a roadmap to “Free, fair, inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections,” that also includes steps to unite institutions.